"Dad," Anko started, calling out to him as she entered his room.
He was relaxing on his bed, book in hand before looking up to her entrance. The resemblance they had was unmistakable; his hair was the same shade as hers and had the same unruly texture. Unlike her, his eyes were blue, but he held a stature similar to her own—a ruthless smirk and an unforgiving attitude.
"An-chan!" He grinned as he shouted the crappy nickname, setting his book to the side and sitting up taller in his bed. He smacked the spot besides him, the proudest look he'd ever had on his face. "Back from team placements so soon?"
Rolling her eyes, she clambered up the side of the bed before stopping inches away from where he wanted her. "I'm only stopping by to tell you who I got paired up with."
Her father waited for a moment, giving her an expectant look before tossing his hands.
"Well?"
"My teacher is one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru. My teammates include a Hyuuga and some civilian boy."
Her father assessed her face for emotion, looking at key points that might tell something about the girl who made a point to be unexpressive. Her brows might've looked off, her cheeks maybe a little too pale—she was biting her lip in a way that was unlike her. She didn't know what he saw about her in the end.
"Nervous?"
"A bit," she answered, "but mostly I'm scared. I'm uncertain, there's no way I know how well I get out of this."
She'd never be honest with anyone but him. It didn't matter that he didn't know what she was scared of.
"Orochimaru is one of the most respected figure heads of our village, Anko. I'm certain things will be just fine. He'll take care of you."
She didn't have the heart to tell him otherwise and nodded instead. Anko had nothing left to say, and after staring at him for a moment, she stepped out of the room.
(In the future, she would hate herself for this. She'd regret it and suffocate on them, the words she hadn't said. Why? Why? Why hadn't she'd stayed to tell him everything?)
Behind her, she heard a sigh.