Oneshot 6: Standing Out In A Crowd

Kaiya frowned as she walked by her father, obediently holding his hand. She was usually a bubbly child, but she had a very short fuse and right now it was lit and on the way to a nuclear explosion if people weren't careful.

Even Lee who was walking beside her wasn't trying to mess with her having already sensed the danger in her grey eyes as she glared at the ground before her and any person that dared to stop and coo over how big or pretty she had gotten. Kaiya had a surprisingly scary death glare for a seven year old, a trait she had picked up from her mother and grandmother. Even Kakashi felt a little shiver of fear run down his spine when his daughter's warm grey eyes turned ice cold. It gave new meaning to "If looks could kill."

"Daddy, I don't want to go to school today," Kaiya announced with a serious look on her pale face.

Kakashi was confused. Kaiya loved school. Hell, at the rate she was going she could easily be a Jonin by age ten.

"Why Kiddo?" he asked bending down to her level.

Kaiya opened her mouth to speak but it snapped shut to give away to a frown, her eyes hardened into a cold artic glare.

Kakashi turned to see the Uchiha brothers heading their way. When they passed, a tiny nod was shared between the two Shinobi while glares and faces were shared between two of the three children. Kaiya caught Itachi staring intently down at her, making the small seven-year-old scoot a little behind her father as if seeking protection. She didn't like what was hiding behind those onyx eyes. As soon as the two brothers passed, a group of laughing girls raced by shooting Kaiya dirty looks which she gladly returned.

"Okay, what was that about?" Kakashi asked looking down at the frowning girl. Kaiya glared at the ground ignoring her father's question, far to mad to actually trust herself to speak.

"At recess the other day all of the girls got mad at Kaiya because she agreed with us boys," Lee explained for his friend looking up at Kakashi. "They're always giggling over Sasuke and she told them that they were being stupid and needed to get a life."

Kakashi barely restrained the smile that tugged at his lips. He had heard most girls Kaiya age had crushes on the youngest Uchiha son. He couldn't help but be secretly relieved and proud that his baby girl couldn't be counted amongst them.

"Now none of them will talk to her," Lee went on, "Especially Ino and Sakura-chan, they pretty much hate her guts now."

Kakashi noticed how Kaiya's eyes misted over for a split second before hardening again. Ino, Kaiya, and Sakura had all been inseparable after Akahana's death having all been best friends. He could only imagine the pain she was going through at the moment.

"Kaiya," he said softly laying a hand on her shoulder, "Not everyone is always going to agree with you but it's important that you always speak your mind and follow your heart. If they don't want to be your friend because of something like this then they weren't your real friends to begin with."

Kaiya seemed to be taking in her father's words before she smiled brightly up at him giving a nod of her head. "Okay daddy, I think I get it," she gave him a quick hug before running off to join Lee at the academy gates.

REVIEW! Oh and the title is from Trisha Yearwood Standing Out In A Crowd.