A/N: Guys! Thank you all very much for all the support!

So I wanted to make this one longer, so yeah. And new characters come into the picture! There's a minor time skip, so yeah. Less talking, more writing!

'…smth…' – thinking

See the end of the chapter for translations. *

Disclaimer: don't own Naruto.

Warnings: Language.

Childhood Arc: Naïve

Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is. — Maxim Gorky

Living with a few dozen people is hard, but it has its perks. Due to not having any free time, the last half a year has passed in a blur. It's August already, almost a year since I moved into the orphanage. Things have changed a lot here. Some of children got adopted, leaving others with more room. We only have nine people per room now, which is like a breath of fresh air. The triplets disappeared one day. We were told that they were adopted, but the trio would've stayed long enough to bid farewell. Most of the infants were taken in as well, but sometimes…

/Flashback/

It was an average April day. The weather hasn't changed for a week, constant rain making us stay home. It was break time, around ten am. I was reading a book in the hall, a small patchwork blanked, a present from Kazumi, dropped over my shoulders. A cup of steaming tea to my right, resting in the floor. The book was about the history of the Five Great Nations during the Second Shinobi World War. It's talking about the fall of Sora no Kuni, making me remember that one movie about the flying ninja**. It's also describing the reasons for it, which are, in al honesty, total bullshit. The other nations are at fault? What the hell is this book talking about, when all the warring nations are at fault, perhaps except for Ame. A war can't be just one nation's fault. It's a dirty game of politics that is hidden deep down, where no civilian may be able to find it.

But still, it's rather interesting. I was always interested in the chronology of wars in Naruto world. Seems like it's based of manga, but then I remember the kunai shaped memorial and my brain stopped.

'Is this world a fucking mix? Gah, I needed to be reborn into a mix, yeah? How can I keep track of stuff now?'

While I was having a mental breakdown, a few people entered the hall. This sickening aura filled the room, making it hard to breathe. I could feel eyes on me. Lifting my gaze from the book, I was met with three people: each one of them dressed in black cloaks, two wearing hoods. One was wearing sunglasses and you could hear that buzzing sound coming from him. An Aburame, that's for sure.

The second one had a hood on, but I could make out his – or her – sharp features, pale skin and some strange marks on the eyes, reminding me of all those heavy eyeliner looks from my previous life.

The third one was the only one I recognized immediately. I had many nightmares about him coming for me, those bandages covering his face, the apathetic look in his eye, that scar on his chin. Shimura Danzō.

I felt color leave my face. They were staring right at me. Why? I'm not interesting. You already have Kabuto, so leave me alone! I'm not going through Ne, that's for sure. Danzō will make me tell him all the information and use it against the Sandaime, or to start a war, or…

… Why are they looking at me like I'm blocking their path, it's not like I'm lying on the floor-

I am. Oops. I just pissed of the bastard. I hope he doesn't like me. Like, ever.

The hooded one crouched next to me, their face becoming more distinguishable. I could make out the amused yellow eyes and that wicked smile. Oh god…

"Hello, child. Aren't you too young to read about War?" He asked in his sleek voice. I know it too well, had heard it in so many episodes. Hell, Ne doesn't seem like a bad place anymore. I don't want to be experimented on! Fuck it, how the hell is Orochimaru still in Konoha?

Even though I was shitting myself on the inside, on the outside I gave nothing (or almost nothing) away as I started bullshiting my way out: "Hi! My tou-san died in war. I wanted to know what it is." I saw as I lift the book up, as if saying that I chose this book on a random "war book" principle. His amusement faded a bit, but not fully.

I looked around, as if observing the situation. Pretending to understand that I was blocking the path just now, I got up and let them pass.

When did Orochimaru desert Konoha? I remember that it was after Minato was chosen by Sarutobi as his successor, but was it after the Kyūbi Attack? I guess yes, Minato was too badass to let Orochimaru escape. It leaves us with the option for after the Kyūbi Attack. There was also the Shodai experiments, and Danzō getting sharingans, but no specific timeline. Argh, Kishimoto, couldn't you have been more specific?

Left alone in my musings, I was completely oblivious to the glint in Danzō's eye.

/Flashback end/

Yeah, I think the trio had something to do with it. I haven't seen them again, and I hope not to. I tried to avoid the hallway as much as possible, opting to stay in our room. The encounter left a bitter taste in my mouth.

As of now, Kazumi and I have become very close. After she'd told me her story we've grown fond of each other. She's a lot more mature than other kids, and she has an excellent memory. My memory has always been one of the worst types, making it hard for me to remember and learn stuff. If there is a jutsu to enhance one's memory, it's mine.

Kazumi's into knitting and patchwork. She's made me my favorite rainbow scarf, the blanket that literally saved me during the springtime, and a cloak. We often read together, and we already acquired the title of nerds. Not like we care.

As for my other friends, Shin-sempai has taught me pretty well. He kept giving me lessons for month already, drilling katas into my mind at every given moment, thus making me into a mini killing machine. Ew.

Shin-sempai is an actual prodigy. He's great at taijutsu and also talented at math. His chakra is unlocked too, but he can't do much with it. I guess mental age does matter, me having pretty big spiritual reserves and all. Still, Shin is very funny. He's always smiling and laughing; he likes pranking people and helping those in need. He's been here for long enough to know everyone, and he's very determined on becoming a great shinobi in order to, as he has said, "Help those who can't see the light anymore." A beautiful spirit he has.

Iruka has graduated the academy in June, becoming a Genin. I loved him in Naruto, but in real life he's a pain. He'd pull pranks at the fucking time! And he won't let you help him. I tried to, I tried giving him attention, and hugging, and smiling, but he won't calm down. I think the wounds are still too fresh, so I'd give him some space. For the time being only, of course. So now he's been given his own studio apartment in a civilian neighborhood. I've yet to see it, but I'll be damned if the kid id left all alone!

As for Naruto himself, I have yet to see him. He's not at the orphanage, that's for sure. I've checked the infants an uncountable amount of times, but none of them is a whiskered blonde. I'm glad; it's better for Naruto this way. I hope that he won't be hidden away for a great part of his life, making it impossible for us to interact.

I may have stayed introverted, but I still managed to gain great friends, such as Kazumi and Shin-sempai, Saisu and Zaji, the triplets and even Haruki. I'm considered a nerd and weirdo, but I'm okay with that. As long as they're safe.

It was an average Tuesday morning. We were woken up at five by Umeko with ice buckets knocked over our heads. We got dressed, tidied the beds and went downstairs to shower and get ready. After an extremely long line, I got to the shower.

At six the breakfast was served to us in form of rice porridge. It there some type of a devil that knows how much I love Japanese snacks, but I don't have the opportunity to buy them?

As always, breakfast was a quiet affair with Kazumi and me sharing the table. Afterwards we went to the hallway to check the Chores Schedule. I was assigned ironing, which is absolutely horrible. I hate ironing in in lifetime, that's for sure.

After two and a half hours of ironing the break came. Shin was busy today, leaving me to fend for myself. I decided to go visit the cemetery and take it from there.

It took me twenty minutes of tree hopping to get to the outskirts of the village, near the training grounds and the cemetery. I decided to go visit Oba-chan first, with her grave being closer to me. I went there, following the path without looking. The place was enormous, it being the main cemetery in Konoha. Surprisingly enough, there is only one cemetery for all of the citizens, both clan members and clanless. Her grave was rather dirty so I cleaned it in the best way possible. I left soon enough – I visit her for myself only, after all. It's not crowded, but there are at least a few people here that I managed to sense. I headed towards the Memorial Stone, taking my time to walk over a puddle. My chakra control could be considered pretty good. I can walk on trees without a problem now, and water-walking is progressing rather well. I can sense people in a one hundred meter radius, which is very useful. I guess I'm going to be a sensor, I hope. I started trying to sense people early on, giving me a boost. My physical energy has grown significantly so now I can control my chakra a lot easier. I wish I knew any jutsu, but other than Rasengan I can't remember a single one due to the hand signs. So yeah, no jutsu for me.

As I got closer to the stone I figured that I wasn't alone there. I could make out a glimpse of silver haired teenager, standing all alone, staring at the stone. Hatake Kakashi, the Copy Nin, in full out ANBU gear.

He left before I could even say hi. Without anything left to do, I paid my respects and headed… home, I guess. But before that I still had an hour and a half in my disposition, which I decided to spend productively. Water walking it is!

An hour later, sweaty from exhaustion and, well, walking over a puddle, I headed back. My training is definitely paying off: I don't know if Itachi or Kakashi managed to tree walk at three, but I did and I'm proud of it. My taijutsu is a lot better, but still needs refinement. I'm very clumsy for a reason, after all.

On my way back, lost in thoughts, I bumped into an adult, causing for myself to fall on my but with a manly "Ouch!" Or not that manly.

Looking up, I found a pair of brown eyes staring at me. The woman was on a short side, around one fifty meters. She had long, spiky brown hair in a high ponytail, exited eyes and red fang marks on each cheek. An Inuzuka member dressed in full shinobi gear. But where is-

A wet nose touched my cheek, linking it a moment after. Three fucking years without that feeling, without anyone welcoming me home with a swinging tail and a happy bark, without linking my nose to melt my heart in order to get food. Three years without any dogs in my life.

To say that I was happy is to say nothing. I latched myself onto the dog, kissing and hugging it. I squealed: "Doggie! Pretty doggie!" It had black and ginger fur, reminding me of a German shepherd. It was high enough to tower over me when on all four, but that didn't stop me from hugging it any weaker. A dog! Finally, I can hug a dog again! Hooray!

It sniffed me again and barked twice. After that I felt arms wrap around me, as if to pull me away. But I won't let that happen, uh-uh. So I hugged him tighter, but gentle enough not to hurt him.

"Common, kid! I can see that you like Midoriko here, but you're exhausted and need food. Where are you from?" The woman asked, her voice a bit harsh. Midoriko, meaning green child. Such a beautiful name!

I was pinched. "Ouch! What was that for?" I ask, my eyes narrowing at the woman.

She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I asked you a question, but you wandered off. Where are you from, girl?" She asked, this time slower. Pff.

Feeling heat rise to my cheeks, I pouted. How dare she? "My name's Isamu and I'm a boy! I love dogs and with I had one, but I can't because I live in the orphanage." I said, turning my head back to Midoriko. Such fluffy fur…

"Earth to Isamu-kun," I hear the woman say, "Hey. Sorry, my mistake. You just look very cute, that's all. I can give you a lift if you want. My name's Inuzuka Masuyo and this girl here is Midoriko," she pats the canine on the back, "and she tells me that you used chakra. Is she correct? Because I might need to report that. After all, most kids your age don't know they have it." She said with a straight face, but her voice betrayed her amusement. What's her goal? I'm more than sure that no Inuzuka worked for Danzō, it'd give too much away.

Great, I can't bullshit my way out of this one. She knows that I used charka – she's at least a Chūnin, after all. So, I better give her part of the truth. "I know that there is energy in me, and I saw people use it to walk on walls. This is why I tried to do it too. Please, don't tell them! They'll punish me and I don't want that." Please, take the bait. Please…

She looked at me, amusement clear in her eyes. A smile played on her lips and a laugh erupted. "You really thought that I'd sell you out? Kid, I'm an Inuzuka. We don't betray our kin, and Midoriko here says that you're one of ours. So hop on Midoriko," she said, gesturing to the dog, "and let's get you to that place. Got a family name, pup?" Masuyo asked as she helped me get on the dog. I love them!

Tilting my head a bit and giving her a grin, I said: "Yup, it's Amachi. Amachi Isamu, yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" With that I was settled on the dog's back.

She eyed me once more. "Amachi, you say? Any relation to Amachi Kiyoshi?"

What the… "Yes, he was my tou-san, but I didn't know him well." I answer in a moment. Sparing her a glance I see loneliness in her features.

We were silent for a few moments before she spoke up again, her voice kind of distant. "He used to be a great tracker, your tou-san. Very good at sensing chakra, always on track. And his Will of Fire shone brightly… him and me weren't close during his last years. We had a huge conflict, leading to us to break contact. If only I knew… sorry, pup. Your tou-san was a great man, and you'll be greater. I'm sure of it." On this note we arrived to the orphanage. She knew him? Tracker? Sensor? Just who is she?

Masuyo helped me down, putting me on the floor, gently. She smiled at me, her eyes a bit glossy, but otherwise nothing gave away that something was wrong.

"If you ever need anything, just call my name, pup. I'm known among the Jōnin circles." She waved her right hand, using the left to call for Midoriko. "Ja ne, Isamu-chan."

That woman…. ARGH!

Two weeks have passed since my encounter with the strangest Jōnin possible. She's showed up during a break once, taking me and Shin (since we were together, planning on training and stuff) to a teashop for mochi. Her mutt is very much alike a German shepherd I used to know, being all kind and funny. We've had great time, laughing and fooling around. I'd love to do it again, I guess.

But right now I was going through my fourteenth circle around the clearing, Shin encouraging me not to stop while my muscles did the exact opposite. That's when I felt incoming chakra that I recognized. Oh shit.

Coming to an abrupt halt, I turned to Shin, my facial expression screaming: "Help". He jogged, his face twisted in confusion. Just as he was about to ask the question, four people emerged from the trees: Aburame, Orochimaru, Danzō and Shinju, all but Shinju dressed in black cloaks with hoods on. They all stopped as they entered the clearing, eyeing Shin and me but lingering their gaze on him.

Orochimaru's eyes lit up when he turned to face me. "Kukuku, who do we have here? Remember, we've met before. Still curious about being a shinobi?" She asked, his tone mocking and something else I really don't want to know about.

Pretending to be an actual kid, I smiled n recognition. "Hello, Shinobi-san! Yes, I remember your eyes and the mummy man!" I said all too cheerfully.

Danzō and Shinju eyed me in an annoyed manner, while Orochimaru seemed to find the situation quite entertaining. That's when Shinju spoke up: "Here, I promised you the older one. He's a rising prodigy. That's all you'll get here." She said, her voice full of venom. So she doesn't like the situation.

Shin seemed to have had enough of this, taking a step and yelling: "Hey! Who are you and what are you doing here? We're kind of busy, huh!"

Wow, that seemed to have gotten Danzō's attention. Bad.

"Silence!" He said, his voice so powerful and blank. I felt a wave of something – is that KI? – wash over us. Shutting his mouth with a click, Shin didn't make another sound. Satisfied with the results, Danzō continued: "You shall not speak to me like that. For you knowledge, I'm one of Konoha's elders. It means that I'm one of her strongest and major members." I heard Shim gulp next to me. Not like I wasn't nervous as hell too. "Tell me, Shin-kun, what is your opinion about Konoha?" What is the warhawk talking about?

Humming for a moment, Shin answered: "I see my village as something to protect. I love it and I'd want to save it from the horrors, such as any more attacks and wars. It's home for my friends, after all." He had a small smile playing on his lips. Where is this going?

Danzō opened his eye slowly, talking in his cold tone: "Will you be ready to do anything in order to protect them? Will you do it no matter what?"

Shin's eyes lit up in determination as he started nodding his head. "Yes! I'll do anything! Nothing can stop me!"

A malicious smile appeared on Danzō's face. "I see. If you truly want to become a shinobi, then you shall come. I'll show you the true meaning behind a shinobi. I'll teach you. Come, child." He held out his hand as he finished his pitch. God, no…

Confusion crossed Shin's features. "What about Isamu-kun? He's still weak…" he said, trailing of as he glanced at me.

That's when the matron stepped up. "He'll be waiting for you! Yes, yes. He'll wait for you to become a shinobi; I'll help him train personally while you're away. So you have nothing to worry about, Shin-kun." She said, her body tense and her face sweating.

Even though Danzō seemed unpleased by this, he held it in. "I see. Will you come to protect the Will of Fire, young boy?" He asked Shin again.

As his eyes shone with resolution, he said: "Yes, old man- Oi, Danzō-sama!" He corrected himself as another wave of assumingly KI washed over us. Shin sweat dropped at that.

I could feel tears gather in my eyes, my whole body shaking. "Sempai…" my voice was weak, so pathetic. But I was powerless here. I couldn't fight off a Jōnin and two Kages.

Sempai turned to me, smiling widely while his eyes shone gently. "Don't you worry, Kohai. I'll be back sooner than you know it! So don't slack off!" He finished as he hugged me tightly. I did too.

As tears started pouring down my face, I spoke: "I'll be waiting for you, Shin-sempai. Ja ne." I said as my chest hurt.

He smiled at me, but it didn't reach his eyes. He waved his hand, but it seemed so… empty.

This is how they left the clearing, leaving me all alone. And this is how I remembered Shin – Sai's deceased brother.

(Through I didn't know it, but all the while Orochimaru kept his gaze on me, a smirk playing on his lips.)

* Sora no Kuni – Land of Sky

Ame – rain (as in land of rain)

Tou-san – father

Sempai – kind of like a teacher

Kohai – kind of like a student

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu – in this context like "nice to meet you"

** Naruto the Movie: Bonds

A/N: Done! That's it! Not writing for a few days xD

Naruto's timeline in Orochimaru's defection is very vague. All we know is that it happened after Minato was chosen for the Fourth's seat. So I wanted a bit Orochimaru. But he'll defect very soon, so don't expect him for a while.

Hope you liked it and please review!