O0O0O0O0O
Years later
Creak
"Shhh!"
"It wasn't me!" said a young boy in a hushed tone
"Shut up!" said an older boy
"don't talk like that to your baby brother!" said a woman's voice
"guys, you know we're supposed to be quiet, right? Otherwise a surprise won't happen" said a calm older man
"he started it" said the annoyed voice "besides, this is lame. can't we use jutsus to surprise her?"
"You haven't learned the proper jutsus yet and besides your baby brother and mother don't know how"
The family was sneaking through their house's hallway attempting to be quiet while in the process. Unfortunately, attempting to be quiet with two younger boys in tow was impossible.
"boo!" said a girl's voice as a door to their left opened and revealed a young girl in her late teens.
Smirking, Akira said "you guys, how can you be considered ninja's when you can't even keep quiet?"
"Aww man! We got up early to surprise her and it backfires; those precious hours of sleep—gone!" whined Kenji.
"now, now" said Tomoko "we all did this to surprise your sister and to congratulate her for being appointed as an ANBU officer. It's not such a waste"
"Yeah, but what about…" started Kenji
"Momma, can I have some of the pancakes now?" said the 4 year old Daichi amid his older brother's complaints
"Of course you can sweetie" said Tomoko
O0O0O0O0O
Later at Breakfast
"I'll take that" said Akira as she snatched the last fish away from Kenji's plate.
"Hey! I was saving hat for later!" said the young boy
"Too bad! It's my celebratory breakfast, I can eat whatever and all that I want"
"Nuh-uh" said Daichi "you can't eat whatever you like, you'll 'splode!, right mommy?"
"That's right" said Tomoko. "But, you know, your sister is very strong she can eat a lot and not even have a tummy ache."
"That's right! So after eating Kenji's fish, I can even eat your pancakes!" joked, Akira
The little boy's eyes went from wonder to frightened as his eyes got watery and searched the table for an ally
"Daddy! She can't do that, right Daddy? I like my pancakes very much!"
"Oh, I dunno. It is her special day"
The boy's expression was almost in tears as his lower lip trembled and his cheeks puffed out.
"Mommy!"
"Tadashi, Akira! Will you both stop that! It's so early in the morning and already you're being mean to him"
Tadashi chuckled and put a reassuring hand on his youngest son's head and said "no. Don't worry; even your sister can't do that"
With that, the younger boy's eyes cleared up and as he continued to eat his pancakes with much gusto and speed as if making sure his sister won't get a chance to grab one of his beloved pancakes.
After breakfast, the entire family gathered by the porch to bid Akira goodbye as she starts her first day as an ANBU member.
As Akira walked away, Tadashi can't help but feel sad. He hoped this wouldn't come. He was hoping his little girl would remain little and innocent and not have to be away from home and do dangerous things. But perhaps it was inevitable she would be a ninja.
He sighed as he realizes that he would now have to endure sleepless nights while he waits for his daughter to come home from a dangerous mission. All in a day's work for a parent.