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Chapter 12 - A Wish, A Threat, and An Old Friend

"So," Amaya said to Kakashi as they walked behind the Genin and Haku, "I thought you said you'd need my help back on the bridge."

The Jonin shrugged. "I thought I might. But you did help. If it wasn't for you, Haku wouldn't be alive. Do you think Zabuza intends to come back for the boy?"

"I don't think so. I think he wants Haku to have a life in Konoha."

"We'll talk to the Hokage when we make our report. We're not far now."

That wasn't a talk she'd enjoy having. Even though Kakashi thought of her as a full Leaf shinobi, she wasn't and he was in charge of her. He'd have to tell the Hokage about her technical insubordination, though she hoped that an alliance with Kiri would lessen her punishment. Without it, her probation might be extended another three months or she might even never be allowed to return to being a shinobi of the Leaf.

Nearing a bend in the road, Naruto raced forward, dragging Haku behind him. Amaya smiled; the village would be in sight when they rounded the trees. She thought that Naruto wanted to see his home as much as he wanted to show his new friend.

Sasuke huffed his annoyance at Naruto's energetic domination of Haku. Over the three days it had taken them to travel back (they'd taken their time while he and Kakashi-sensei recovered), he and Sakura had come to accept Haku and he them. But Naruto seemed determined to keep the older boy to himself.

Slowing her pace so the Jonin would catch up with her, Sakura fell into step beside Amaya. The auburn-haired Jonin waited while the girl gathered her thoughts. Finally, she spoke. "Amaya-sensei, I...I want to be stronger. I was useless while everyone else fought. I don't want to be useless anymore."

"We'll train together and I'll help you become the kunoichi you want to be." She laid a reassuring hand on her young student's shoulder. The relief on Sakura's face reminded her of when she'd been young and eager to prove herself. "Now, go back to your friends. You want to be with them when you get back from your first big mission, don't you?"

The Genin nodded, running to catch up with her teammates as the village gates came into view. Kakashi sighed. "I'm glad you're here. I'm not sure I'd know how to help her. Hell, I'm still not sure how I feel about having Genin."

"What'd you mean?"

"Well, they're growing on me, but I don't enjoy having their lives in my hands."

"It's no different than having a team of Anbu under your command."

"But Anbu can defend themselves. Genin are...bad at that."

"Give them time. Anbu aren't made overnight."

"I know. They're just so…. I don't know. It's what I imagine having kids is like."

"The world doesn't need more than one of you, Scarecrow."

"Or you, Princess." The silver-haired Jonin ducked a punch.

Their banter stopped when they reached the gate. The ninja who halted the progress of the Genin and Haku wore the standard Konoha attire, though instead wearing his headband as a bandana.

Amaya wouldn't have recognized the brown-eyed, brown-haired man except for the senbon that hung loosely from his mouth. As she reached the Genin, the shinobi didn't react, only took in her tattoos. "Long time, no see, eh, Genma-san? What're you doing guarding the gates?"

A smile tugged at Genma's mouth. "Filling in for Izumo while he's on a date; I owe him a favor. I'd heard rumors you were back, but I didn't believe it. Especially after Kakashi's inadequacy drove you away."

The Genin snickered at the older ninja's implication while Haku hid a smile behind his hand. The silver-haired shinobi glared at them, making all four laugh out loud. Amaya, a grin on her face, spoke to the young ninja. "Go home and rest, you deserve it. Haku, you'll need to stay with us." After Naruto, Sasuke, and Saukra left, she turned back to Genma. "It's good to see you too. We'll have to catch up over a bottle of sake sometime."

"I'll be sure to bring Aoba, Asuma, and Kurenai with me," the Tokubetsu Jonin said.

"Don't forget to invite Gai. Gods help us if we leave him out."

"Sounds like we'll need eight bottles at least."

Before she could agree, Kakashi interrupted. "We do have our report to file, Amaya. And the Hokage to talk to. And I'm sure Haku'd like to get settled as soon as possible."

Genma turned his gaze on Haku, seeming to remember why he'd stopped them in the first place, though both Kakashi and Amaya knew he really hadn't. "It's Haku, right? Who are you?"

"Just a child who tagged along with these shinobi in hopes of finding a better life."

"He'll cause no trouble; he wants to be a Konoha shinobi. We're going to take him to see the Hokage since we have to visit the Sandaime anyway," Kakashi said in the boy's defense, stating what Haku had told them the day before.

Genma nodded. "I guess I can allow it since you'll be with him." He waved them on, promising to bring plenty of sake when he came to visit. The trio walked toward the Administrative wing of the Academy. Haku, lost in the sights of the village, didn't hear the Jonin as they spoke quietly.

"You can't stop me," Amaya said.

"I know I can't, but I wish I could. Remember what happened the first and last time he was drunk around you?"

"Yes, all he did was flirt with me. You just want to keep me all to yourself."

He ignored her jibe. "He did more than that. He tried to rape you. I still haven't forgiven him."

His head snapped to the left; she'd smacked him hard across the face. "Say that again and I swear you won't be able to have children when I'm done with you. He was drunk, I wasn't. I was in complete control."

It had happened a few months before she'd left Konoha. Even though she hadn't been old enough to drink, Genma'd once tried to get her to at least try some sake. He said it would help dull the pain of having seen children slaughtered by desperate rogue ninja on her last mission. He came over with a bottle the night she returned; he tried to help her through. She refused the sake so he drank alone. She'd been like a little sister to him or so she'd thought. He was drunk faster than either had anticipated. He began trying to grab her, playfully at first, but it soon devolved. He pinned her to the couch; she had a kunai to his belly, ready to stab hard enough that he would let her go yet not deep enough to seriously harm him.

Before she could, though, he seemed to come to his senses. He mumbled an apology, bolting for the door. The next day, she told him she didn't blame him, that it was the alcohol that had made him do what he'd done. She knew he cared for her more than he'd ever admit and that the previous night's events had only been in part due to the sake, which had given him the courage to act on his feelings. They fell back easily into their friendship, though he never drank around her again. That would've been the end of it if Kakashi hadn't heard part of the conversation as he came to find her. Furious, he'd tried to kill Genma and they both ended up in the hospital.

From his statement, it seemed Kakashi and Genma had come to an understanding and maybe even a friendship. But his paranoia was uncalled for; she wasn't helpless then and wasn't helpless now. Besides, they wouldn't be alone. She said nothing more, simply stalked off in the direction of the Academy, leaving Kakashi and Haku to catch up.

Walking behind the Jonin who rubbed his stinging cheek, Haku wondered if all adults were as blind to their emotions as these two were.


By the time Amaya stood outside the Hokage's office with Kakashi and Haku, waiting to be called in, she'd calmed down but kept her gaze from the silver-haired ninja. Their wait wasn't long; the Sandaime bid them to enter moments later.

"You recently came from the Land of Waves, correct?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked from behind his desk, pipe in his teeth.

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kakashi replied as they all bowed.

"You wouldn't happen to know anything about a message I received yesterday from Mei Terumi asking to form an alliance with our village?"

"No, Lord Hokage. We had a run-in with an ex-Kiri Jonin during our mission, but other than that, we had no contact with Mist." Hiruzen asked the silver-haired shinobi to fill him in on the details of the mission. Amaya was surprised to hear Kakashi leave out her insubordination. Haku was introduced to the Hokage as a child abandoned after he'd washed out of Mist's brutal Academy. The lie would allow for some of Hau's skill, though he'd have to hide the rest for some time. The Sandaime said he would see about getting the boy tested to determine his abilities, but he could promise little else. Kakashi spoke up. "Naruto has offered Haku a place to stay. I think it would be good for both of them. If you approve, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen thought for a moment, moving the pipe from one side of his mouth to the other, small curls of smoke rising from the lit tobacco. "I would agree with you as long as one of you checks on him every day until his testing is complete. Naruto can show him around the village and he can perhaps keep Naruto out of trouble."

Having Hiruzen's permission to leave, the trio bowed, but before they could leave, Haku stepped up to address Hiruzen. "Hokage-sama, your shinobi have not told you the truth, though the deceit was only meant to protect me. I am not an Academy washout. I trained under Zabuza Momochi, one of the Seven swordsmen."

"Is that so? Do you really intend to stay here and live in Leaf or will you one day decide to run back to your master with our secrets in tow?"

"No, I want to stay in this beautiful village and to protect the peace I've seen here. In fact, I would like to become a healer."

"A healer?" The Hokage raised an eyebrow. "The student of a swordsman wants to be a medic? Very well. Your honesty is admired and the truth will not harm you. But nor will it help you. You will be judged on your merit alone. Is this acceptable?"

Haku bowed deeply. "Yes, Lord Hokage. Thank you."


The Jonin showed Haku to Naruto's apartment, where the blond had already laid out a bed for his friend. Haku was nearly tackled again and good-naturedly allowed the enthusiasm, though Amaya thought that he'd soon try to break the younger ninja of the habit. Kakashi handed the older boy more than enough money to sustain him for three weeks, warning to not let Naruto trick him into buying ramen.

Their charges cared for, the Jonin split ways, Kakashi going to fill out and turn in the mission report that had been forgotten about, Amaya heading home to unwind from the assignment. When she arrived at her home, she found a paper slid under her door ordering her to report to the Intelligence Division on Friday. She smiled when she saw that Inoichi Yamanaka would be her interrogator. He'd helped her when she first began to feel like she was losing her mind. She didn't blame him for how things had turned out; he just wasn't the help she'd needed.

Amaya laid the paper aside and went to shower. The hot water melted the knots in her muscles, cleansed her body of travel dirt, allowed her to rid her hair of excess oil. Feeling clean and fresh, she was toweling her hair dry while sitting on one of the sofas. A knock on the door interrupted her and she huffed a sigh, thinking it was Kakashi. Her anger at him resurfaced as she answered the door, a sharp dismissal on her tongue.

Instead of the silver-haired man she expected stood a grinning Genma, an unopened bottle of sake in each hand.