The tour of my "new home" began at the Hokage's building. Shisui told me that the Hokage was our leader and protector, and the most powerful shinobi to live in the village. It was why he was the Hokage in the first place. We didn't go inside the building, but it was impressive; unlike anything I had ever seen.

Three dome-like fixtures sat beside each other, the tallest of the three sitting towards the front. The walls, which I could believe had probably once been a fiery shade of crimson, were now a boring and washed out shade of red. At the top of the building, bold and daring, sat the symbol of fire.

After a few more moments of admiring the building, he led me in the direction of a building that I found less impressive, but just as intimidating and remarkable. The building appeared to tower three or four stories high; I wasn't entirely sure. Trying to stare up at the building to determine how many floors there were was hurting my neck.

"This is the Ninja Academy," Shisui said with a fond smile. "It's where little punks like you go to school." He paused, then looked down at me. "By the way, how old are you?"

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He was serious.

"I don't... understand," I whispered, looking down at my feet. "Forgive me."

He laughed. "Alright then. Do you know your birthday at least?"

"Birth-day?"

I didn't know whether his expression was supposed to be comical or not. Most of what he said didn't make any sense to me. He sighed and lifted his hands up to rub his face. When he looked down on me again, I cringed and shut my eyes as tight as I could. He cleared his throat.

"Well, based on facial expressions, body movements, and uh," a cough, "development, I would guess that you're about ten years old. You're too short to be any older," he waved his hand over my head, smirking, "and you sound too smart to be any younger."

Was this a compliment?

"Ten years old?"

"Yup," he nodded, looking back at the Academy. "It means you were born ten years ago. Do you remember your family at all?"

I frowned and pulled my sweater tighter over my shoulders. I couldn't recall ever having a family. What was a family? I had seen a woman walking with a small child a long time ago. She had been smiling and holding his hand, and he had been laughing. There had been tears in his eyes. I hadn't understood then, and I still didn't understand now. It was all so different to me.

"Will I attend this school?" I asked him.

Shisui grinned. "Oh yeah, you're a citizen now, so you will have to once things settle down a little bit. Right now some political stuff is going on, but it's nothing you need to worry about."

I nodded once and looked at the building again. I wasn't sure how much I wanted to go. There would be lots of other children there, but they would not be like me. I wondered what that meant. Did they have families? Older women that walked with them and held their hands, laughing and smiling, with tears in their eyes; did they have that? What was so special about that? I frowned. This is my home now. Or at least, I suppose it is. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't go back to the place I had come from.

Wherever that was.

"Okay!" Shisui shouted, clapping his hands together. I startled and then sighed. "Next stop on the Shisui Express: your house!"

I didn't speak much more after we left the school, but Shisui was fine with filling the uncomfortable silence with mindless banter. He went on and on about the village and how much I would like it here. He was very fond of talking about the food, which led me to believe he ate a lot, but it didn't look like he did. As we walked, he talked about the villagers and how kind they could be. Shisui told me a few stories about how they had helped him train by letting him do chores that required a lot of physical activity. However, he only did such things for the elderly.

Along the way, Shisui stopped and introduced me to some of these people, telling me that they would help me if I ever needed it. I smiled as best as I knew how, told them my name, thanked them; it was only when we left that I could allow myself to relax.

The people here were strange and difficult to understand. Shisui had not been lying when he said they were kind people. I believed him, especially after meeting some of the villagers. It was exactly that though—their kindness—that made me unable to understand. If they knew who I was, where I had come from, would they be so kind then? If they knew I was a prisoner, would they smile and offer to help me?

I had prepared myself for torture, ridicule, and hate. But never in my wildest dreams had I imagined being accepted into a community in this way; even as a prisoner. I had believed that once I had given up, because I knew that fighting for very long was in vain when no one was coming to help you, I was going to be killed and forgotten. Once they had the information they wanted, I would no longer serve a purpose. I would be disposed of. And yet, here I was, being treated like any other normal girl.

Like a human being.

When we stopped walking, we stopped in front of a long, ovular building that stood five stories high. The building itself was an off white color, and the roof tiles were an ugly shade of orange. Everything here looked so washed and faded. I grimaced. To my right, Shisui laughed.

"I know it's not much, but it's all we can offer at such short notice. Also, you don't have anyone here who can give you a place—"

"Because I'm a prisoner."

"No, no, no!" He insisted. "Not anymore! You're—"

I frowned. "Do not like to me, Shisui-san."

He fell silent. After a few seconds, he walked ahead, leading the way into the apartment building. The inside was as unkempt as the outside, but I held back my disapproval. I was a prisoner. I had no right to have any dislikes. I should be glad to even catch a glimpse of daylight. I should be very grateful that I was spared.

Shisui stopped before an unremarkable door. "Home sweet home."

He grabbed my hand and dropped a shining silver key into my palm. "Enjoy your stay in Konohagakure, Naoko-san." He swept a bow. "If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask."

When he was gone, I unlocked my door and stepped inside. When the door was locked once more, I slid to the ground. When I was on the ground, I pulled my knees up to my chest and closed my eyes.

Finally, some normalcy.