See the end of the chapter for translations.

Disclaimer: don't own Naruto.

Warnings: language somewhere down there. And fluff.

Childhood Arc: On Your Side

I never realized what a big deal it was. How amazing it is to find someone who wants to hear about all the things that go on in your head. – Nina LaCour, Hold Still

Our way to the Inuzuka Compound took about five minutes due to Masuyo's mastery of Shunshin. Like really, got to get the secret for that jutsu out of that woman.

Back to the world of living. I was riding on Midoriko's back as if she was a horse. The compound's gates were wide opened, the gorgeous canine statues decorating the entrance. The compound was… reconstructed, it seems. The aftermath of the attack back a year ago is rather gloomy, but some of the constructs survived. Most of the buildings were plain, one-floored and new. Some were partially recreated out of cheaper materials. Most of those housed different type of shops and cafes. Several buildings looked better for wear, surviving the accident. They were rather executive, decorated with antique ornaments and picturesque yards.

The compound itself was the size of a small neighborhood, consisting of many private houses and a few apartment complexes.

There weren't many people outside, reminding me of the fact that it's the middle of the day. The few clan members that we passed all greeted Masuyo, with the exception of over-active kids that practically scurried before us. The same couldn't be said about the dogs, though. Many carried past us, of all sizes and breeds. It was strange to see so many canines without owners, but after all the Inuzuka do breed ninken and dogs.

We came to halt near a two-floored building, its roof completely remade but otherwise unscratched. It had a neglected garden, a huge crater in the middle of it. Otherwise it appeared like a decent house.

"This," Masuyo started, "is our home. It used to belong to my grandpa back in the day, but as it stands now," she flinched subtly, the movement almost escaping me, almost. "Yeah, now it's all mine to use as I please. Otōto moved out a while ago, getting his own place in an apartment complex." Pulling on a smile, she gestured for me (or Midoriko) to follow. "Come on, don't just stand there, pup!"

Mumbling under my breath about troublesome women (ironic and creative, I know), we entered the house. It was rather modest, I'd say. The walls were covered with a new coat of paint. There were two pair of slippers at the entrance: Masuyo's size and mine. The coat hanger to the left was empty.

Midoriko lowered her body so I'd get to the floor. I can use chakra to simply land on my two, but I've yet to tell Masuyo about my progress. So I got of without a single word, catching a glimpse of the Inuzuka Jōnin's amused stare. Slipping of my sandals and getting into – god, it's been so long since I've worn those – comfy fluffs, and the world made sense again. That's worth living for.

"Kami bless you, Masuyo-san." I murmured blissfully, taking a step forward in that gorgeous footwear. Trust me, if you'd spent the last year wearing wooden sandals you'd also feel euphoric.

Barking out a laugh, Masuyo greets me, "Well, this is our lair, pup! Make yourself at home and don't go to the second floor yet, clear?" She demands in a cheerful tone, her eyes sparkling.

Beaming at her, I lift my thumb up. With a "Roger that!" I take off, right into the kitchen.

…What? Did you really think that I'd prove myself useful and unpack my stuff? HA! Joke's on you!

That's how I found myself head first in the fridge, taking in the magnificent view of fully stacked counters. I love that woman!

I took out all the onigiri and some sashimi and, being the timid myself I am, I dug in like a true Inuzuka! Or like Masuyo, I have no clue if her other clan members got any ethics whatsoever.

"Wait for me, brat!" echoed from the hall, heavy footsteps (she's a Jōnin, meaning she usually walks without a sound) ponding through the house. That's it, I managed to get myself screwed in the first two minutes. New fucking record.

After three hours of running for my life, devouring everything in my way and planning revenge a knock on the front door rang through the house, accompanied by a heavy bark. Turning to face Masuyo, I found that she's already heading for the door, her lips twisted into a wide smirk, Midoriko high on her heels. I won't even bother trying to understand them. And to think I was a woman too…

Another knock and the opening of the door brought me out of my musing. Glancing up, I was faced with a kind of familiar face. A woman with shoulder length spiky brunette mane, clan marks framing her cheeks. A younger girl, around six years old, a chibi copy of the older one. A grown up ninken trailed after the women with an eye patch and a lost ear, his fur grey and shaggy. Following after the ninken were three puppies, too energetic to walk straight, opting for biting and jumping on each other. And an infant riding the ninken's back

"Hey there, pup!" enounced an Inuzuka, her face breaking into a grin. She flopped down next to me, her ninken sniffing me. "My name's Inuzuka Tsume, the Inuzuka clan head. I've been told that Masuyo here," she gestured towards my guardian, "got herself a pup without telling me beforehand! Tch, tch! You traitor! So, even though someone decided not to tell me, my Hana here," She patted the young girl on the head, the latter beaming at her mother, "managed to find a trace of an unrecognized scent in the compound. I was going fucking crazy 'cuz of you, brat, but Kuromaru," the ninken with an eye patch barked once, "figured out that you were a kid traveling with Masuyo. Which leads me to the point where I ask what the fuck is going on, Masuyo?!"

…Yeah, I can recognize her now. Kiba's mom and the Inuzuka clan head. The epitome of badassery, it seems. God help me.

Masuyo sweat drops, waving her hands before her face. "Tsume-chan, dear! Aren't you looking good? And that's after two pups! You see, dead, I had this problem with Isamu-chan. He's not like most kids, his intellect showing it. I met him on his way to the orphanage, poor little pup. Turned out he's Kiyoshi's son," something changed in Tsume's gaze, softening. "And so we became friends! He was a bit too sweet for his own good, so I talked with the matron and adopted the pup! Just look at him!" Uh-oh… I got strangled in a hug, both hands pressing me to a rather developed chest. Help! "Such an adorable headache! I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but the mummy was after the pup, making me act subtle. You can understand my reasoning, right?" With that Masuyo finished, her eyes narrowing a bit, as if challenging Tsume to argue. Mummy… how original.

Tsume returned the glare, but nodded. "I understand, and I'd have done the same. I'm proud of you." Tsume stood up, towering over us all. "For protecting the pack I'll let it slide, but you must know that you can trust your kin. As for the pup," she glanced at me, "he can stay in the compound, but I forbid him from learning any of the clan techniques. He will be allowed to learn in other arts, such as academy nin-, tai- and genjutsu. He won't be titled with an Inuzuka name, but he'll keep his last name as it was. Amachi Isamu!" my name boomed through the room. When did she learn my last name? "As of now, you're part of the Inuzuka pack. You may not know our blood secrets, but you are one of us no the less. It's our duty as pack members to help each other. So you will protect us as much as we'll protect you. Understood?"

I… I was shocked. The last year has been hard. Yes, I managed to make friends and forge bonds, but this statement…

I have a family. A pack to protect.

Feeling tears blurry my sight, but I surprised even myself when my voice didn't tremble, "I won't fail you." Not now. Not ever.

After me breaking down into a sobbing mess, with both Tsume and Masuyo calming me down, I was left with Hana, chibi Kiba and four ninken. So Hana and me played for a while, mostly with Kuromaru watching over us in silence.

We were on the floor when a low growl sounded near me. "Get up, brats. We're is leaving."

"Holy shit, he talks!"

So, long story short, I was scared shitless when an overgrown malamute talked in front of me as if it's okay.

Should have remembered that chakra can do shit like that. Oops?

I received a knock on the back of my head for cursing, but the laughter that filled the room was worth it. Cut me some slack, I'm not used to taking dogs god dammit. *Sighs in expiration*

So this is how I met one of the Rookie Nine members. And got a hella more determined.

"When are we gonna go upstairs?" I finally manage to inquire. More than five hours passed since we entered the house. It's dark already!

"Hmm…" the Inuzuka trailed off while tapping her chin in thought. "Technically, we can go there now. But it'll be dusty there, and you'll need to fight off spiders on your own. Deal?"

So we… wait for a sec- "You mean to say that you made me wait all this time because of- fuckinggodtherearespiders?!" I manly squeaked, letting the bravery leak out. Into hyperspace. In another universe, I guess.

Yeah, I'm a very courageous person. Or, in other words, I'm a pussy. I can't stand insects. Not after more than twenty years of entomophobia. Thank god I wasn't born into the Aburame clan. That'd have been fun.

Feeling heat rush to my face I glanced up, only to be met with a hiccupping Masuyo, laughing hard enough to lean onto the wall.

"Brat! G-god, I c-can't breathe! Yo-you are such a ch-chicken!" She ranted between giggles.

"Am not!" I pouted.

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am no-"

Waving her hand in dismissal, Masuyo said, "Nah, that only means we gotta get you up there to help you," torture you, "get fid of your fear," your screams will be like music to my ears, "and you'll be ready for an adventure," Mwahahaha. Ha.

Kami help me survive this. Argh.

The way upstairs happened with me on Masuyo's hip. You see, Midoriko-hime was too busy snoring on the sofa to come with us. Lazyass dog.

The second floor was in a worse condition. The beige paint on the walls was crumbling off. There were three rooms, one of them turned into repository, filled with everything and everyone. The other two rooms had small futons, wardrobes and boxes, so much unlike the orphanage…

/Flashback/

The day was bright. Birds were singing, kids were rejoicing and I was beyond joyous. Even though the damned Inuzuka and matron played me, they were both gifting me a chance. A safety. But why?

Tilting my head in confusion, I asked, "Why do you help me? Weren't you with the bandage man?"

Pressing her lips tight, Shinju sucked in a breath before lowering her gaze and speaking. "I never wanted for it to be this way, but that man is slier than a snake. He did a lot of bad things, more than you can imagine." Yeah, I kind of know some of those, like making an army of brainwashed kids or blackmailing a child into killing his kin. "This man would come to us, taking our children and giving us financial support. In return we were supposed to keep silent, being protected from the shadows. But his methods were worse, so much worse… I couldn't protect every single child of mine." Tears gathered in her eyes, flowing silently. "Many were taken. He'd use our fear of him against us. Recently I was told that he'd like to see you again, but Inuzuka-san already displayed interest in you. You're three, but your intellect is much higher, no matter how much you'd like to conceal it. I know that you created some type of code, the one I hadn't managed to break. You sleep during the lessons, read about war times, politics, shinobi arts … sometimes you even come back with your chakra levels low, which is supposed to be impossible at your age. The only way to keep you safe was to get you into an influential family, and fast." She got up from her seat, walking around the room. "Which is why Inuzuka-san is here with us today. As well as tomorrow is the last day you spent under this roof."

I just stood there stiffly for a while. It was a lot to take in. Who would've thought that I of all people would be in Danzō spotlight at the tender age of three? I messed up grandly.

Masuyo kneeled next to me, wiping a lone tear – when did I start crying – from my cheek. No matter how timid, I needed that sign of affection for my sanity.

"No matter what, Isamu-chan. No matter what, I won't let you down."

A few hours have passed. I left Masuyo and Shinju to tend to the paperwork necessary in order to pack my stuff, which consisted of: the clothes on me, as well as two more other sets; my notebooks that have become been titled "The Nerdy Quest"; a pair of sandals and my mug back from the first house, the one that belonged to Oba-chan.

I bid farewell to every single person I managed to befriend. The troublemaker duo, aka Zaji and Saisu shed a few tears (but they won't ever agree to this). Kazumi remained quite placid, wrapping the rainbow scarf tightly around me and squashing me in a hug, making me promise to visit soon.

"Of course I will! You're my friends and I'd never abandon you, guys!"

And the weeping began! After that-

Was that a screech?

/Flashback abruptly ends/

I yelped, hiding my head in Masuyo's mane. Don't wanna die. Good cockroaches…

"Nee-chan? You home?" A high-pitched voice sounded through the house. A talking cockroach? I wanna die.

Wait… Nee-chan? Really? A human? That human? Couldn't he have come before we were going through the fucking phantom maze?

"Otōto! You're finally home!" The older Inuzuka squealed as she rushed downstairs. Or jumped once over all the steps. Perks of being a Jōnin.

We were faced by a scrawny guy in his early twenties. He had short, spiky hair sticking out in an odd manner. He was dressed in Chūnin attire, his stance rather timid. He had a lean face, huge eye bags, clan marks on his cheeks and Harry Potter style glasses. To tell the truth, he was Daniel Radcliffe's copy with grey eyes and fang marks. And actual fangs too.

"Mm… Nee-chan? Who is that?" He asked, pointing at me. He seems kind of shy? A shy Inuzuka? The odds.

"Oh, this? That's Isamu-chan, your nephew!" She beamed at her little brother. And seems like she broke her brother too, considering how flabbergasted he was.

Lifting a numb finger, he asked with all of the confusion in the world, "My… nephew? But when did you manage, nee-chan? And he looks so much different from you…" His eyes grew wider with each passing moment.

Giggling at her brother's reaction, Masuyo stated, "Sure he doesn't, duh! He's not my biological son. Remember Kiyoshi-kun?" Her brother nodded stiffly. Why does everyone tense at the mention of my tou-san's name? "Well, turns out he had a son, but the boy was orphaned even prior to the attack. And after that he got into the orphanage, right before I met him. And I couldn't pass the opportunity with this adorable fellow, so I took him in!" She finished, holding me by my armpits at arm's length. I feel like a doll.

"Nee-chan? You know that kids are not puppies, right?" And he's sensible dude too. I like him!

Shrugging in dismissal, she said, "Nah, not that much difference. Plus he's pretty independent. Knows how to write, walk around the village and stuff. He's even easier to take care of, if you think about it." She mused.

Her brother sweat dropped, but smiled at me nonetheless. With a wave, he spoke, "Hi! I'm Inuzuka Komugi. Nice to meet you, Isamu-chan!"

I return the gesture, "Yo! Nice to meet you too! So… you're a Chūnin?" I ask as I'm being placed on the ground. Komugi's ninken, a ginger Shiba Inu, came up to me and started the sniffing session. So cute!

Scratching the god under its chin, I turn back to Komugi. He beams at me, warmth in his gaze. "Yep! Just got promoted a few months ago. And now I even got promoted to work at the R'n'D. There are so many seals, just like-" he was cut off before the passionate speech began.

"Yes, yes, otōto, your precious seals are everything. But not every single one of us is a nerd, so don't you turn Isamu-chan into one, clear? Or else…" she threatened with a mad sparkle in her eyes.

Gulping, Komugi hurried to say: "Sure, sure! No problem! Anyways…"

And the day carried of in chitchat.

Two weeks have passed since I moved to the Inuzuka compound. Turned out that they're rather close with each other except Masuyo, as she tends to keep to herself. Not that I mind, per se. Thank god that she's not the gossip type.

We're in the park at the moment. It's around dawn with the sky painted red and orange. I haven't been practicing chakra control throughout this time period, but the time has come to explain the reason as to why my chakra depleted so much previously.

Sparing my guardian a glance, I asked, "Masuyo-chan, can I show you something? But it's a secret!"

She looked at me, a coffee in her hands. Thank god she turned out not to be a morning person. Yawning, she answered, "Sure, just be quick about it."

Grinning at her, I run towards a tree and focus chakra in my feet to walk on the tree. Getting to the top of it, I glance at Masuyo. Her coffee slipped out of her hands, with jaw hanging in the air.

"Ano, Masuyo-chan, you alright?" I inquired on my way back down.

Blink. Blink once more. Blinkblinkblink-

It took longer for her to get out of her stupor, but when she did, I found her staring at be, crouching on the grass. "Isamu-chan, I know that you tried to recreate this move, but what you just did is a skill of a genin. Be very careful not to do this in front of those that might use it against you. Understood?"

"Y-yes, Masuyo-chan. I just wanted you to know," I stuttered out.

Her eyes narrowed as she growled, "I know you only wanted to show off your skill, but this puts you in danger, as well as gives you privileges. Be careful not to get caught while training. I'll help you in that, okay?"

"Okay… That means you'll train me?" I asked uncertainly.

She backed away a bit in confusion. "Of course I will. That's what folks do, right?" she winks at me, all the tension gone. I beam back, side hugging her. That's when I see her.

Lying in approximately thirty meters was a large canine, napping in the shadow. She had long earth-toned fur. She reminded me of a Caucasian Shepherd, so peaceful.

Pointing in her direction, I ask, "Why is she all alone there?"

Masuyo's eyes softened, grief clear in them. "A few month ago her partner died on a mission. She managed to escape with his team, but a lone ninken can't survive for long. Plus she's lost a limb in that fight, left crippled. How did you know that she's a female?"

I miss the last question, already on my way towards the beauty. She opens her eyes, the deep brown and green. In a moment she's on her feet, racing in my direction. She stops near me, sniffling my hand. Her back right paw is missing, but she's no less perfect.

I pat her on the head before putting my forehead on hers. I know that she knows and vice versa. We are left alone, but forged together. Not fate, but life. "If I found home in solitude, then so will you." With that whispered promise I turned on my heals. "Masuyo-chan, can we keep her? I promise to take care of her!"

Her gaze softens as she sees us. "We'll have to ask Tsume, but I'm sure that she'll agree. Her name is Hatsuyuki."

Tsume said yes.

-hime – princess

Otōto – little brother

Nee-chan – sister

A/N: Thank you all for the support! You are amazing, guys!

The code mentioned is the one in his notebooks; people treat it as a code he created for fun. Kinda.

This chapter was hard as hell, but I finished it. I don't like it. Idk. Something feels like it's missing.

Anyways, I hope at least you like it. Please review!