Author's Note: This is about Iwaichi Kujaku, and takes place several years before our story properly begins in Sangogakure no Sato, the Hidden Village of the Coral. Her character was introduced in the Chunin Exams arc.

The Dressmaker

Chosuke was a proud man, an expert in his field and a loving father of three. He was probably the best known tailor in Sango, and his family had alwas been in Nami no Kuni; his prospects were very good. His children were all lovely, intelligent, and well-mannered, but if they hadn't been he still would have been there for them.

His niece, though...

Grimacing, Chosuke looked between the scribbly drawing surrounded by notes, and seven year-old Iwaichi Kujaku's puppy eyes.

"Chosuke-san, please! I know you can do this!"

"Ku-chan, I... well, I mean, I really don't think I-"

"You promised!" Kujaku insisted, her expression turning vicious more quickly than lightning. Chosuke winced.

Beside them, his sister and his brother in law were silently cackling. They were both shinobi, and he should've expected that their daughter was a complete weirdo at heart.

"I know I promised you any dress, but... Ku-chan, I mean... it would take months to..."

Sensing a break, her anger immediately drained away. Eyes shining, Kujaku said, "It's alright if it takes years, if it ends up being a tenth birthday present instead! I'll help you too, I promise!"

"But... Ku-chan, look..."

His sister finally got herself together long enough to throw him a line. "Kujaku, your design is for armor, and Chosuke just doesn't have experience with armor."

Kujaku's crestfallen expression was almost heartbreaking, but still she pressed on. "But... it's a ballgown, see? It just, um... happens to be made of metal. And... anyway.. even if you're not experienced at it, if I took this to somebody else we'd have to pay a lot of money for it, right?"

Her question was met with silence. Chosuke met his sister's eyes, wondering if she'd encouraged Kujaku only for the sake of her wallet.

When Kujaku's father spoke up, though, he found he'd accused the wrong person. "Dear, armor just isn't his area... I'm sure he'd be willing to pay a proper blacksmith to make this, though. He owes you a dress, after all."

"Ah?! Really?!" Kujaku cried, throwing herself at her uncle. "Thank you, Chosu-jii! Thank you so much!"

The hug pretty much sealed the deal; there was no escape for Chosuke, or his wallet, now. He could practically hear his wife's complaints already, but it wasn't like they couldn't afford it, and he had known his wife was right when she told him shinobi only made life more difficult. Chosuke had already made his peace with that fact.

... his niece was really a piece of work, but he'd always be there for her too.

This was originally included at the end of the chapter 'The Arrogant Tree'.