She woke up. Much more earlier than the others. She don't know why she was always sleeping so little yet her body still feel fine.
She goes out of the orphanage with Raven. Making her way to her secret place.
She record her time of traveling to get in there, reaching her new record.
She doesn't feel tired at all than the first time she started running at her full speed. Even if she was much more faster this time.
Marshmallow jump on her, licking her cheek. She laugh. But then she stop. She felt a new presence that was previously not there. Someone is watching her. She realize.
She close her eyes. Sensing the location of the person that was watching her. She gently put Marshmallow on the ground, gathering her chakra in her feet. She jump to the tree infront of her. Seeing a boy in a grey and black ninja clothes with a kitsunin mask. His hair was in a low ponytail. 'Itachi?' . She question.
Due to the boy's shock. He tried to defend himself. But fail afterward. They both fell in the ground, with Hanaku on the top of Itachi. She pointed her kunai to the uchiha's neck.
"What are you doing here?"
She question. She was looking at him like he was some 'prey'. He twisted his body and use his force to switch their position. Hanaku quickly use her chain jutsu and tied him with it. But as she expect it was just a clone. Itachi probably use his 'sharingan' at her.
She close her eyes and focus on removing the chakra that he put on her to make his jutsu work on her. She woke up in reality with Itachi pointing his kunai at her neck.
She once more use her chain to tie Itachi. She succeeded this time. Itachi tried to put her on illusion again. She created a chakra barrier. Making Itachi effort into nothing.
"Now answer me. What are you doing here? What is your intention?"
Itachi close his eyes, turning off his sharingan. Realizing that he had no chance against the youngster.
"I just pass by when i seen you with that wolf. I thought it was going to eat you so i stop and about to kill it."
She calm down, after realizing the teenagers intention.
"I see. Sorry."
She said. Releasing her chain. But she secretly use her 'the string of fate' to make sure that he will not talk to anyone what he just saw. If he tried to talk anyone about what just happened in that moment. His mouth will be force to shut down. Until he lose his intention of speaking about it.
Itachi look at the kid infront of him. He wandered how's the kid became so strong.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be sleep now?"
Itachi ask. Kneeling to her level.
"Nothing really. Im just wandering around."
Raven land on her head while Marshmallow sit beside her. Hanaku patted Marshmallow head. She saw Itachi questioning look.
"I meet them while wandering around. They have no ill intention, so i was safe."
"I see."
Her other pets arrive. Like always. The rabbits was carrying some fruit as they gave it to her. She sat down on the grass letting them jump in her lap. "Thank you" she said as she took the fruit.
"They are always together. Everytime i goes here they will give me some various fruit."
She explain. Pearl jump closer to Itachi and handing him the strawberries she was holding. Itachi look at him curiously. He accepted the strawberries and mutter 'thanks' to the rabbit.
"She will like your 'thanks' more if you pat her head."
Itachi followed what she said. He pat Pearl head. Pearl lean on his hand. He found how cute the rabbit is.
"Can i take her h-"
"No."
She answer cutting him with deadpan look.
"Oh. I see."
He said with no emotion. Hanaku feels a presence getting close to them. She stand up.
"I will go now. Bye."
She said and Vanish. Itachi blink on the place where she was standing. "Yo~" He heard Shisui voice. "Did you get a new a hobby?" He said and jump near him.
"No. I just seen them here with their master so i take a look." A question mark appeared in Shisui face. "Nevermind. Lets go." Itachi said. Jumping to tree to tree. Shisui followed him feeling weird.
•
'Will he recognize me?' Hanaku question her self. She adjust her mask. 'I am not wearing my mask that time. So probably no. But there's a chance he will. After all, my hair and eyes were still the same.'
'Nah, i just avoid him. Problem solve.'
"This is too hard~" Naruto whine. They were having a quiz in math. And somewhat, Naruto pick to sit beside her.
"Naruto." She whispered. Naruto turn to her. "What is it?" He ask.
She pointed at the pencil she was holding. "How many is this?" She asked.
"One."
"And this?" She pointed her another pencil.
"Also one?"
"Now if we mix this two. How many it will be?"
He counted the pencil before answering.
"Two."
"That's correct. Now if i take this two. How many will be left."
"Zero?"
"Yep, that's how to add and subtract. If you're having a hard time thinking the numbers, do this instead."
She rip one piece of her paper and write a number in it. "Now what is this?"
"Five plus Six."
She write a 5 line in the paper. "Now, how many is the line?"
"Five."
"Right, now let's add 6 more lines. Then let's count it all."
"Eleven." Naruto answer without them counting it out loud. "That's correct. Now lets write the answer in it. Then we're done." Naruto 'ohh~' . Getting her explanation.
"But what if it was minus? How could i count it?"
"Just the same technique. Write how many lines you need then erase the numbers of lines you will subtract. For example, This is eleven lines right?" She question. Naruto nod.
"Now we will subtract the three lines." She said putting the line it a middle of three line.
"How many is it now?"
"Eight?"
"Yep, that's correct. You can use that technique until you get use to the numbers and add them without using that."
"I see... I never thought that math is easy. Thanks~"
"Right." She smile. Naruto focus on solving their quiz. Using the technique she taught him. While she write a 6 correct and 4 wrong answer.
"Time's up! Now everyone, pass your papers." Their math teacher announce. Every one of the students stand up and pass their papers. The teacher accepted the papers with a kind smile.
But when it was Naruto turn. His face drop and turn into a cold expression. He took Naruto paper with disgust. Naruto was unbothered by it. Or what he just put on the surface.
The school bell ring. "Let's go eat together! Ah..." Hanaku smile. "Its Hanaku Kiriko."
"Ahh! Right!, Kiriko! Im Uzumaki Naruto datebayo."
"I know. The future hokage." Hanaku said in playful voice. "That's right! I will be the future hokage! Datebayo!"
Naruto personality reminded Hanaku that he was just a kid. A kid that carry a lot of burden. Humans... Was really a blind creature... They were always been rule by a tradition. By a beliefs that put chain to them.
"Just what pushing you for wanting to get seen? To save? By all those people who wrong you?" Hanaku said in a very low voice.
"Hmm? Did you said something?" Naruto ask.
"No, i didn't say anything. That must be just your imagination."
"Eh, really?" Naruto scratch his cheek.
"Really. Lets hurry, it will be bad if someone else take our eating place."
•
Hanaku throw her kunai to the three fish that was swimming peacefully in the pond she found in the forest.
She use the string of her chakra to take the fishes and the kunai.
She put the fish to her basket full of colorful vegetables.
She walk back to her secret place with marshmallows on her side.
"So you're the one who were they visiting."
Someone said that send shiver to her whole body. She didn't hear or feel any presence which made her a bit panick.
She wasn't wearing her mask, So she look at where was the voice coming from with a innocent smile.
"Ah~ Hello~"
She said calmly seeing a man with a midnight blue hair and red eyes and a refine face. The man's expression were calm and emotionless but his eyes was looking at her calculatively.
She keep the innocent smile on her face while Marshmallow walk to the handsome man side.
"Yes, i am the one who they keep visiting over the year."
She answer to the man's question but he didn't said anything and just look at her. He just frown at her then just disappear.
'Wha—'
Many questions was running into her mind making her brain hurt.
Marshmallow put his paw on her basket making Hanaku turn her attention to him.
'Well whatever, i will think about it later.'
"Sorry, were you hungry?"
Hanaku pat Marshmallow who also lean to her hand while waging his tail like a dog who receive a treat from its owner making Hanaku laugh.
"Let's race Marshmallow!"
Hanaku ran as Marshmallow chase her. They jump tree to tree and Hanaku was on the lead. Not letting Marshmallow to catch up with her.
That man is mysterious. There wasn't any information of him that Hanaku can search in her brain. He never appeared in the show.
So...
Who is that weird man?
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End of chapter 3