A. Whole. Damn. Week. I repeat. A WHOLE week, went by as we attempted to complete our mission.

In the process, Gui-Sensei, Neji, Lee, and Ten-Ten had fought clones of themselves, Sakura and Lady Chiyo had defeated one Akatsuki member, Naruto and Kakashi had fought another till he commited suicide, I nearly got killed by Naruto in his nine tails form, Gaara had died, Lady Chiyo sacrificed herself to bring Gaara back, and now we were heading back to the Leaf village.

Talk about tired. Gui-Sensei actually had to CARRY Kakashi-Sensei back to our village. It would have been hilarious if I hadn't been so tired.

"Um, do you think Gui-Sensei overdid it just a little? Kakashi doesn't look so good." Ten-Ten stated, looking at the team captain.

"Right, Team Gui, Team Kakashi, I'm going to take Kakashi to the hospital to be examined. The rest of you, go home and get some rest. We'll report to Tsunade first thing in the morning." Gui-Sensei explained.

We all nodded and said our goodbyes before heading to our houses.

I smiled at the prospect of being back home, with Seiko and Nekko.

Once I reached my house, the door flew open and someone ran out to greet me.

"Tama! You're back!" My little sister screamed, grabbing me in a fierce hug.

I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "I told you I'd be back didn't I?"

She grinned her toothy grin and pointed to her headband. The band was red with the village's insigna in the middle.

"Aw, I missed your graduation, didn't I?" I pouted.

"It's okay. I know you were busy." She smiled, not showing any sadness.

"Well, let's go inside and you can tell me all about it, okay?" I said, grabbing her hand.

She dragged me along into the house and into the kitchen.

"D-dad? You're back already?" I said, shocked that my father was standing in the kitchen, holding a cup of tea in his hands.

Of course, he frowned when he saw some of the scratches and bruises I had received from my week long mission.

"I see you're back in one piece." He stated.

"Sure am." I said awkwardly. Dad and I had never been good at making small talk.

He grunted in response while I grabbed an apple from the pantry.

"When did you get back?" I asked.

"Three days ago." He responded as I sliced up my apple.

"So did you go to Seiko's graduation?"

"No. I was busy." He answered.

"Likely story." I mumbled. "You're always busy."

"Don't start that Tama. You know I have other responsibilities than just you and your sister." Dad replied.

His statement made me take notice of his outfit. He was in normal clothing, but his arms were still bare. On his left arm, he had his Anbu Black Ops tattoo.

My heart fluttered in my chest. One day I'd have that same tattoo and join the ranks of the anbu with my dad and my mother.

"You didn't come to mine either..." I mumbled.

"I was busy then too."

"Everyone else's parents were there."

"Tama, just drop it. We'll talk about this in the morning." He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

In frustration, I slammed my knife down and whirled around to face my so called father.

"No, I'm not gonna drop this!" I glared. "You're always doing this! You're always leaving me and Seiko to fend for ourselves! Even at mom's funeral, you weren't there for us!"

"Tama, that's enough!" dad yelled.

"No, it's not!" I screamed. "Why can't you just be our FATHER and support us?"

"I would support you gave up this sillly dream of being in the Black Ops! Same goes for your sister!" dad snarled angrily.

"You're so hypocritical!"

He didn't answer me back with words, instead his palm colided with my cheek, shocking me.

I gingerly cupped my red cheek and cursed the tears that threatened to fall.

Slowly I got up and stared him in the eye.

Seiko suddenly burst into tears and ran to me, hugging my waist.

"Stop fighting!" She cried pittifully. "Don't be mean to Tama, father!"

I squeezed Seiko's body closer to mine for a moment then moved away.

"Your father died when mom passed, Seiko."

She looked at me with sadness mixed with shock while dad just glared. I should have expected that.

I gritted my teeth and ran upstairs to my room. Once in there, I locked the door and opened my window. I jumped out and grabbed ahold of a tree branch and easily landed on the ground. I then ran away, away from the anger and sadness that threatened to overwhelm me.