Miki is a Kunoichi from Kirigakure where she was born, orphaned and raised to be a ruthless tool for her village.
Executing orders to the letter, hunting with a precision that had gotten her recognized by the higher ups in the village... that had all been in her youth though.
Just when she had started to gain traction in her career and her life was finally going somewhere...
Well, the past was the past but the present was what really mattered. Now that she was retired with an old injury that prevented her from moving as she liked but predicted the diverse Land of Water weather for her; Miki didn't mind her current occupation all that much.
Being the matron of a government sanctioned orphanage right in the middle of Kiri wasn't all that bad. It had its good and bad, its ups and downs. It also helped that she ran the orphanage with an iron fist, and adopted a nice and strict (and emotionally distant) policy in raising the future of Kiri.
Miki knew since long ago that she wasn't ever going to hook up with anyone. It wasn't that she thought she wasn't pretty enough with her mousy hair and unassuming eyes. Nor did she believe herself to be undesirable in her prime andvquite the contrary she is satisfied in the way she looks. It was just a life decision to never marry that was all. And now at forty years old Miki thought it was definitely too late for having second thoughts, well, at least it was for her at least. So in her own way her role as the orphanage's director compensated as her biological clock.
A calling of a sorts.
Sure there were the bad days where doing nothing but looking at the faces of snot nosed brats did nothing but bring up... undesirable (and disturbing) memories.
But there were also those days when caring for young ones would make her feel more than that apathetic, dull ache that she normally feels. Instead it forces her poke at that dead thing in her chest most would call a heart and sometimes...
Sometimes the children manage to slip past the barrier she puts up and she allows it if only to make herself feel alive again.
And she appreciates it, this feeling. This opportunity to feel again for which Kiri has given her while simultaneously having her gratitude.
After the mind numbing years spent serving Kiri and the Land of Water as a Kunoichi, the time she spends with the Wards of the State is precious. She applauds Kiri in knowing how to provide for its dependents; both in finding retired Shinobi a purpose and placing well adjusted veterans at key points.
All for the future of Kiri.
Miki approves of the state for breeding loyalty to the village. A way to keep retired Shinobi invested in the village and future recruits tied to their home.
Running the orphanage was something even Miki found enjoyable.
She advocates loyalty to the village not only because she has seen the results of not being loyal (to anything) but also knows that it is not pretty.
After all she remembers her stint in the ranks of Hunter Nin.
Miki is grateful towards Kirigakure as it has helped her recall those days... In allowing her this opportunity in working with the future of Kiri has forced her to reminisce about her time with her parents.
This fact has kept her grounded after her retirement by giving her a focus, a way to stay tied in the present. And gives her something to do while her fellow Shinobi march to war. It keeps her mind off the fact that comrades young enough to be her children are out there dying in the Second Shinobi War while she does nothing yet bringing in the next generation needs to be done.
(It keeps her up at night knowing that the children she now raises would most likely be in the next Shinobi War)
Miki's childhood was... nice which she counts herself lucky for because a fond childhood memory was rare for many in Kirigakure even before the bloody graduation exams began. It was only a year ago when the Mizukage had started enforcing the Bloody Mist moniker as if it was a means to a new policy reform.
She hadn't been an orphan as a child (at least initially) and there were those moments. Half buried memories stirred up by interactions with the miniature humans that force her to remember half learned concepts and formerly forgotten emotions.
It wasn't much and her parents were busy for the most of it but there were those rare moments that made her childhood warm.
Those sporadic and magical moments where her parents had taken the time out of their busy schedules to make their child's life worthwhile.
Either it was a family outing to go out and eat. Or it was a simple walk to the park where they would treat her to ice cream. Simple, but that was what had made it sweet.
And then there were those times when she was sick and her mother's serious facade would turn almost motherly which was always followed by her father's familiar smile and the fruit cups he was sure to have.
Right now though Miki was regretting her decision to take charge of some obscure orphanage, one of many in Kirigakure.
The day had started out just fine for Miki. Her hips had decided not to be too sadistic with her today and the sun could even be felt through the perpetual fog that Kirigakure was.
If the day had started out just fine than why was Miki in such a mood?
The answer to this lied at Miki's feet. Was Miki talking about her missing toes? Well, no, her lost toes actually weren't up to their usual ghosting.
No, the problem literally lied at her feet peacefully asleep and no it wasn't the usual drunk she would need tochase off. Earlier when Miki had stepped out to buy late night groceries everything was fine and there wasn't anything marring her side of the sidewalk.
But then she came back and there was this little surprise waiting for her practically at the doorstep.
Since when she had left her there was definitely nothing as conspicuous as the wide, large and low cardboard box that sat underneath the lamppost in front of the house.
At a first glance it was nothing more than a box full of Kirin Nectar, the local specialty of the Land of Water but of course there was more to the life of a Kunoichi.
She almost wished the box was a trap full of exploding tags.
Miki could take it as a gift, or she could take it as the bribe that it truly was. The box of Apricot flavored Kirin Mitsu (her favorite) was a bribe, pure and simple. Since inside the large box nestled in between the bottles of heaven flavored honey were twin brats snoring away as if they weren't at fault for ruining her day.
That meant two more mouths to feed which meant two more kids she didn't need.
Miki was seriously contemplating the willful ignorance that most people in her line of work practiced. All she needed to do was keep on walking, and in the morning her problems would be solved.
And no one would even blame her.
Nor would anyone scold her.*
Nobody would even give it a second thought (except for maybe Miki herself).
No one would care if two brats that hadn't even been delivered by official channels disappeared. No, precisely because the brats were off the record (not that Kiri was all into keeping records) than it would be no spilled milk to Kiri.
After all they had no one to miss them. To raise a fuss if they disappeared.
If two more mouths to feed meant endangering the other orphans she was already responsible for than... Miki would be considered in the right.
It could even be considered a duty to Kiri.
Strange how it was only years after her service that Miki found herself doubting.
Government sanctioned orphanages in Kiri were reserved for the children of those who had done a great service for Kiri, children that came from bloodlines that would benefit to the future of Kiri, or for children that fell in both categories.**
And Kiri had better things to do with their money than support children with no name especially in a time of war (not that they would in a time of peace).
These innocent Wards of the State were her priority not these random brats off the street. So why did she feel so (personally) invested?
It might have just been one of the increasing number of Miki's whims born of years of growing soft.
No, it was definitely a whim. Miki denied it being anything other than that.
It definitely was not because the blond had reminded Miki too much of her own child (from so long ago).
Nor was it the raven's weak and feverish cries that dusted away the cobwebs of her sympathy (and reminded Miki of her own blessed childhood).
Simple. Miki's decision to save the two was the product of her mind slowly growing senile. A whim allowed the universe to give these two no names a mercy.
There was nothing more than flimisical human nature in Miki's decision. Really more of an act of fate that had saved the two and allowed them to see another day.
On a note nestled in the crook of an arm there was a small piece of paper. As Miki stooped down to pick this note up one the babes were jostled and the raven sleepily looked up at Miki and her chest constricted.
The child's eyes were a dreadful golden color just like a reptile's.
There was nothing on the short letter but their date of birth. Which made Miki think the two were abnormally small for children already a year old and created doubt in regards of having Shinobi ancestry like how the rest of Kiri was comprised of.***
Not even a name could be found on either side of the letter, but still Miki was now responsible for blessing the twins with a name.
Names were important in Kiri. One did not even need to look at the Seven Swordsmen to realize that. Kirigakure was ruled by their caste system and these rules went doubly so for nameless orphans in the third caste.****
Names was a necessity in Kiri. To go places. To become someone.
If you were a nameless orphan than you could not even join the Ninja Academy without a Clan backing you up and allowing you the privlage of a last name. A name even allowed you the privilege to take your name and create a Clan (if you lived long enough).
Gaining a last name or having your current one changed opened doorways or signified that you were now worthy. The names of children were changed after a major event in their life as a rite of passage (at least in the third caste) or they could be given a new one based on a notable character trait. Like in Kirigakure's Seven Swordsmen.
Seven Swordsmen hopefuls were given a fruity last names or first name as a sign of solidarity. There were also the times when hopefuls came from produce themed Clans.
Nothing shined and sparkled quite like set names in the Bloody Mist.
After all the Seven Swordsmen was made to appease all three castes. Anyone who measured up to the strict abilities of the Seven Swordsmen was allowed to join. The only place where all three castes would mingle, and stood on equal ground.
It was simple the reasoning that Miki had in choosing their names. She took the kanji from the box that they were found in, for honey and apricots to create their names.
In certain lights those yellow eyes could be called a warm honey, and for this blond's shade of hair apricots was an accurate description.
But Miki felt that the names Mitsu and Anzu were a little lacking and wanted to add something more.
It was right than that a cool, night wind decided to blow down the street that Miki was on. The branches hiding the entrance to her small abode rustled,*****and the wind pulling at Miki's mousy locks also caused her to look up at the night sky. To stare at a moon that never felt so prominent than in that moment.******
Tsuki. What binds them. The moon will give rise to a bright future for the two.
Mitsuki and Azuki would do fine.
To pick up the crate Miki had sent Chakra to her hips and ignored the twinge of pain she felt in response. Miki thought it best for the crate to be searched in her room just in case there was anything of note to be found. Or a search of the crate would wake the babes and their cry would disturb the older kids.
Secure in her bedroom Miki set to cataloging the items found with the Tsuki twins.
Other than the earlier letter she thought lacking Miki had also found a white knitted scarf, a black sleeveless hoodie, a slug plushie, a ring and two pairs of fingerless gloves. The only thing of note was the ring which came with its own chain and was really just a snake eating its own tail.
Strange choice in a momento to give a child, but they weren't hers to begin with.
(But the moment Miki saw these two she couldn't deny this familiarity.)
And that was why from that day forward the children under Miki's care felt just a little bit warmer. The reason the orphanage under Miki's care became a little more like a family.
AN: * Evidence.
**(Both) - A great service+bloodline=a mission resulting in a child. Also bloodline doesn't necessarily mean a kekkei genkai.
*** My personal theory that children with Shinobi ancestry are extremely advanced. Look at Sasuke at one years old he told his big brother that his dream when he grew up was to be a policeman. Or why Gekko Hayate was as tall as five and eight year olds when he was two.
**** Nameless as in no last name.
***** Have you seen a picture of Kiri? It's like a high rise of a bunch of cylinder skyscrapers. The village is covered by low lying trees and foliage and there are no cleared paths in sight. There seem to be only a few short buildings and even then they're still cylinder in shape. There must be more smaller buildings hidden underneath the foliage. Also Kiri seems like a very self sufficient village with all of their aquaducts and roof gardens.
****** Miki I've decided will be a mother or grandmotherly figure to the twins. She is not their mother so how the two of them get the same names. Simple Miki is under a genjutsu. But Miki's a skilled Kunoichi... Well, Genjutsu was not her strong point even when she was younger and for two she is not expecting a genjustu. Mitsuki and Azuki's mom is hiding somewhere in the trees and waiting for an opportune time to cast a genjustu. Not only that but she had set up a environmental/object based trap genjutsu that... well, its basically subliminal messaging all around the box that she put her kids in.