Chapter Three: My Name is Mikoto

Mikoto stood in front of the cave where the Kazekage was supposed to be and stared at the team that they met up with. They had been happy to reunite, but Mikoto was uncomfortable for one reason. There was a Hyuga.

Mikoto's dislike for Hyuga clan ran deep, but that was a story for another day.

Right now she was listening to him describe the seal on the barrier. He found the location of each seal.

Naruto-sensei turned to look at her. Oh no, she thought. She had a feeling what he was going to ask.

"Mimi-chan," he said quietly, "can you please take a look too."

She knew what he meant, even if the others didn't.

"Naruto-kun? What are you talking about?" Neiji asked, slightly insulted that his old friend didn't trust him, "I assure you the locations are accurate.

"I know that Neiji!" Naruto said, looking at his friend with very trusting eyes, "Mikoto just has a way to take a special look."

Mikoto flinched and glanced nervously at the Hyuga. If she did this in front of him she knew that she was putting herself in danger. But when she looked into her sensei's eyes she knew she couldn't refuse.

She nodded and made a cross with her fingers, "Shadow clone jutsu." She said and created two clones, "Ok you know what to do."

"Hai!" Both clones replied as they gathered chakra.

"Byakugan!" One shouted.

"Sharingan!" Shouted the other.

Neiji's eyes widened in shock. What is this?

Mikoto's clones both stood there as they looked around. Then they looked at their creator and nodded. Mikoto sighed and closed her eyes, putting her hands on her temples to prepare for the headache that was about to come.

"Release!" Both clones shouted simultaneously!

Suddenly behind closed eyes Mikoto was looking at an image. An image that no one in history had ever seen. For a brief moment, she was looking at the world from both the byakugan and the sharingan. She held the image in her mind.

She saw the seals that the Hyuga had mentioned at the appropriate locations, but she also saw something else.

"It's as the Hyuga said," She mumbled, rubbing her temples.

"You see?" Neiji said ruefully.

"But there's something else." She continued.

Everyone's eyes widened. No, Gai thought to himself, Neiji couldn't have missed anything.

"At the end of each seal there's something. I can't really understand it. But it's something that will be released when you release the seal. A booby trap I think." She moaned as she finished describing the image, her head pounding.

"Here let me help you," Sakura placed her hands on either side of her head and used a small medical jutsu to relieve the tension.

"Thank you Sakura-san," Mikoto said with a sigh of relief, maybe I can kind of understand what Naruto sees in you.

Gai stared at the child and looked at his rival Kakashi. He was also staring at her with a contemplative look. While he didn't appear surprised at what had just happened, he appeared to be skeptical and cautious.

Gai looked back at the girl that Naruto had introduced at, "Mikoto," Not only was she able to see as far as Neiji, but she was able to read the chakra that she saw with the Sharingan. Amazing.

Gai gave his team members radios. "Well regardless of any booby traps we have no choice. It's up to us!"

"Hai!" Everyone shouted.

And off they went.

Kakashi turned to look at Mikoto who was panting, sweat dripping down her body. She collapsed onto her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

She's an incredible child. However… still a child. Between fighting Itachi, keeping up with us full-fledged shinobi, and using her visual skills just now, she has used too much Chakra. "Naruto," Kakashi said aloud, "I believe your… student should sit this one out." He put an emphasis on the word student as the relationship between the two had yet to be explained.

Naruto looked at Mikoto and saw her condition, "Ya know, I think Kakashi-sensei is right Mimi-chan. You need to take a break."

Mikoto's eyes widened, "but Naruto-sensei!" She started.

Naruto smiled and placed his hand on her head, "Mikoto, sit out and recharge. Then when your needed you'll be super strong ya know!"

Sakura watched this exchange with curiosity. Naruto was always one to charge in head first, regardless of his own condition. But the way he was talking to Mikoto… perhaps he was her sensei.

Mikoto nodded slowly, "Ok Naruto-sensei. Where do you want me?"

Naruto looked to Kakashi, "What do you think Kakashi-sensei? You're much better at this ya know."

Kakashi looked back at the girl, "Go 100 meters south from the cave and find a place to regroup comfortably. When your able use your byakugan to assess the situation and join if you deem it necessary. But only if it's ABSOLUTELY necessary."

Mikoto nodded. It was a good plan. She stood up shakily and turned to leave, "Hai, Kakashi-san."

And off she went.

As she faded into the distance voices could be heard over the radio.

"READY SET GO!"


Mikoto sat in the edge of a field away from the battles as she tried to catch her breath. That had been exhausting, both physically and emotionally.

She hadn't seen her father in more than a year. Not since before raiders had attached Hoshun Town, killing the kind innkeeper who had been taking care of her. The new owner hadn't wanted her there so she left. That was a little more than a year ago.

She lived on her own for awhile. Existing in the wilderness, stealing from campsites, and looking for her father.

That was when she stumbled on a campsite with a certain yellow-haired knucklehead. He had over-trained… again… and was sleeping in the middle of the ground. In the middle of the day. Jiraiya had gone to meet with a contact, but Mikoto didn't know that.

She had thought it would be an easy mark so she tried to sneak onto the campsite and steal some food. But before she could get away the boy had popped up and tackled her to the ground.

Mikoto had fought back. She was so hungry and all she wanted was to eat. She was angry too. She wanted her papa. She wanted him now!

She felt her Sharingan flare as she moved to attack the boy.

But he just stood there frozen. Staring at her.

She stopped before she could attack him and cocked her head. Looking at him curiously.

"Why do you have the Sharingan ya know?" He asked.

She scoffed, "Why should I tell you?" That was when her stomach chose to growl.

Naruto laughed, "I have some ramen cups. If you want I can make one for you."

Mikoto looked at him suspiciously. She had learned not to trust free food, but then… She could always just run if it she needed to.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki ya know!" The boy said loudly, extending a hand.

Mikoto tentatively reached out her hand to meet his, "My name is Mikoto."

Since then, Mikoto had been traveling and training with both Naruto and Jiraiya. She had taken to calling Naruto "sensei," out of respect and familiarity, not due to formal teacher-student relationship.

She had shared her parentage with Naruto and he had been surprised of course, but his response was very typical for him.

"If you're Sasuke's family then I have to protect you no matter what!" He had said.

It was also with Naruto and Jiraiya that she had learned of the Uchiha Massacre. At first she didn't believe them. Her loving father that she knew could not have done something so horrible. But then… they had no reason to lie.

However she did have faith in her father and believed that they didn't know the whole story. She would find the truth, but until then, she would protect her sensei from her papa.

Itachi Uchiha had always taught his daughter to protect her precious people. And she would do so! Even if it was from him.

Suddenly Mikoto started as she sensed a powerful spike of chakra.

Naruto-sensei! She panicked, immediately activating her byakugan.

There! She thought as she found him, Oh no… it's the nine-tails chakra!

I've recharged enough! She decided. And off she ran.


By the time she caught up to them Lady Chiyo was already performing a strange Justsu on Gaara, bringing him back from the dead.

Mikoto had watched with wide eyes as the skeptical old lady exchanged her life for the Kazekage. It was something she found both beautiful and horrible at the same time. However in the end, the support the sand showed the once Jinchurriki gave her hope.

Perhaps I can have a home like that someday. She thought to herself.

Now all the Leaf Shinobi were headed home and she followed. The Hyuga kept eying her as they walked. At a few points he tried to talk to her but she ignored him.

She knew that when she got to the village she would have to face them. But still… she had three days until then.