Chapter 10: Hiding in plain sight

The apartment was small, but surprisingly comfortable. It consisted of four rooms; a living room, a bathroom, a kitchen and a bedroom. It was made for only one to live here, having only one bed for a person to sleep in. Different scenarios flew through my head, none of them making sense. It seemed sort of crazy if they expected someone of my age could live without supervision. My Anbu watchers did not count, since they provided no real guidance for me.

Kakashi watched me searching the rooms with no apparent emotion visible in his visible eye, and I observed him in return for the slightest change to his expression.

I finally stopped moving and placed myself in the middle of my new living room. It was a light grey, with a couch and television to one side and a small dining table to another. Two chairs had been placed for it, making it clear whoever had been chosen as interior designer to this project had not thought I would receive a lot of visitors.

It was still more promising than a single lonely chair in their places.

"If all goes well, this will be your home for some time" The copy-nin said somewhere behind me, interrupting my though process. "Somebody will drop off food every day and clean when necessary. You won't even realize they were here"

I nodded. "Ninjas." It was sort of obvious.

He wasted no breath on confirming my statement. "Since, you'll be living alone I'll come over as often as I can."

I turned halfway around so the ninja was in my sight, and let a single eyebrow rise, showing of my skepticism at the promise. "I'm a bit confused, and I'm not sure if I really want to ask this, but…" I glanced at the copy-nin in the corner of my eyes. "What were you paid for doing so?"

"And that was your first thought." He replied, his voice giving of less interest than I had for keeping up the appearance of a three year old.

"No, my first though was who had blackmailed you into glorified babysitting duty. Then I remembered who's running this village." I poked the couch, wondering what the hell had caused this. "You think removing me from my former environment will improve my mental condition, or is this a result of a collected petition of the doctor and nurses, because I really can't tell at the moment?"

"Someday I'll find out who introduced you to sarcasm."

"Nothing in this world is certain." I said sagely. "Except death, discounting the stuff in between that and birth such as desires, countless failure in achieving those and the tendency for murphy's law to be proved right again and again."

I winced when the hand came down and started patting my head.

"You'll never stop doing that, will you?" I complained in a low murmur.

"No." I blinked when I was turned around to face the crouched copy-nin's one visible eye. "I've lived longer than you, so believe me when I tell you, I felt pain. Times have been bad." Wha… Wait was we doing this for real, having a heart to heart talk about shared experiences and things like that? "But even when thing seems bad, remember it could always be worse. You have your whole future in front of you, Naruto. Don't turn your back on your life before it has begun."

Nope, I was mistaken. This was only a reprimand.

"I know, nii-san." I smirked, thoroughly amused by the irony of the situation. "I'm not one who'll ever stop fighting. Such wise words from a clearly old man… can you truthfully say you have lived by that?"

A noncommittal grunt was the answer, which provoked an eye roll from me.

"I know I have physiological problems. I know I have to deal with them." I shook off his hand and took a step backwards before spreading my arms out and rotating in a wide circle. It was a childish movement, but it would only emphasize my point. "So, what are you going to do about yours, hm?"

"You're a bit quick with the accusations, Naruto. Shouldn't you be concentrating on yourself?"

"You're deflecting." I said in a singsong voice, skidding towards the big windowsills at one side of the room. The view from this height had to be pretty, or at least comparable to that from my hospital room. "It doesn't make it less true."

My decision to let the subject lie showed off my lightened mood. Such generosity was seldom seen from me, even when I felt giddy and ready to burst with laughter.

How lucky he was.

·

It was still early morning when I arrived. I stopped at the entrance, and starred down at the line separating the ground from the street, and rocked back and forth in my sandals at the invisible line. Part of me was unsure what I hoped to gain by the coming there. It was unclear if I had come here only to prove myself better than my so-called brother and his fears of confrontations, or if I truly wanted a genuine joyful experience from being there.

I remember the Greek 'know thyself' and the words of Sun Tzu. I had received 'the Art of War' one Christmas in my home reality, and had not let it go until I had partially memorized everything.

It was one of the smaller things I missed these days.

"If you know the enemy and yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." I whispered while crossing the line which somehow managed to separate two distant realms. "If you know neither, every outcome will be bleak."

My toes wiggled in the open sandals, and I straightened my back as I looked around the foreign landscape. It looked peacefully now, as empty as it was, but in a few hours the tale would be wildly different. I had to endure it, had to show I was better than an immature child who couldn't face her own problems. It was a declaration of war against all those who viewed me as simply another brat, which meant it was somewhat inclusive of anyone I had ever met in this world.

This was the playground for the children of Konoha.

The greatest challenge I had faced until now.

I took a deep breath and held it, halfway expecting the ground to cease to exist from beneath me. It would almost be nicer if the earth could just swallow med whole, since it was a damn good excuse for not having to do this. "Come on world, show me your hate."

Nothing happened.

The air left me like a punctured balloon, and I started walking towards the swings. I placed myself on one of the slightly rusty seats and stared ahead. It would be some time before people showed up, so I had plenty of time to wallow in misery and regret my decision. I snickered at the thought, and proceed to do what a child was supposed to do with a swing: see how high you can get and then jump like a maniac.

All very relaxing and such, since I had gotten used to much more extreme heights. I had even learned quite a bit about landings and takeoffs, considering I only had my own experience to rely on.

I got company while trying to gain enough momentum to do a flip in the air, and I landed somewhat off. My left knee took most of the damage and I quickly balanced myself by placing my right hand on the ground. The three kiddies blinked at me, before dismissing me and walking past. They were around eight to ten by my estimate, and none of them bearing any recognizable marks of any clan.

Perhaps they were civilians.

I lifted myself from the ground, standing still for a moment to stare after them with my brain working in overdrive. It had been an embarrassing introduction, but maybe it would allow me to be accepted into their… circle? Ranks? I groaned at myself.

"Why am I doing this?" I murmured before setting course towards the children, who had gathered around the seesaw. Already arguing about who should go first.

On second thought, this was a worse idea than first imagined.

"Uhm, hello?" I winced at my own unsure tone, and the three only looked reluctantly in my direction. I repeated the mantra I had gone through before coming here: 'this is not pedophilia, there's no sexual attraction or anything'. "Want to…?" Why did I still feel like a sex offender?

"No." Oh, thank goodness. "We don't want anything to do with a small kid."

My eyebrows twitched.

"Go away." Another shooed.

I just watched them with dead eyes. It unnerved them until they remembered they could just ignore me and go somewhere else on the playground.

This was just fantastic, absolutely amazing.

Well, I tried.

I went back to the swing and started waiting for more kiddies to arrive. I had reserved this day for interacting with people of my current physical age, and no one was going to stop me from trying my hardest at that. Whether I was successful or not in my endeavors meant little.

This was a matter of pride now.

·

Perhaps I would have better luck with a group of younger girls "Can I…"

"Mum doesn't want you near us."

I glanced at the strict looking woman, who had seated herself on one of the benches. Her narrowed eyes were locked on me with the burning ferocity of a mother bear. "Oh…"

·

Two older boys? Sure, that would be just as rewarding as pissing myself.

·

Somebody actually said yes. I wonder what's wrong with the world, it seems like it just tilted on its axis. Perhaps I am being too pessimistic.

Why do they want to go to the woods now? Must be some form of hide-and-seek.

·

The sun moved across the sky, and soon night came.

Someone crept around in the dark of the playground, and I acknowledge the silhouette of a man, which moved closer and closer to me. The white mask on his face made it quite easy to spot him. "Anbu-san," I kept glaring ahead. "Are you here to order me to go home?" My imagination could not help itself and was already conjuring up other possible scenarios involving mask stealing assassins. I had experience in ignoring it, but my muscles refused to relax

The ninja kept silent.

I tried readjusting my ponytail and my fingers flickered past dried leaves and sticks, which had decided to nest in my hair. The man remained unmoving, which had to mean he truly was Anbu. I did not allow relief to show, and set my jaw instead as I pulled the tree parts out of my hair with violent movements.

"You know, I waited to do this until Kakashi was on a long-term mission, so no one would do that." I was whining so pathetically, I should just get the brat reward. "So is it professionalism stopping you from answering, or just more plain old hate of girl who haven't reached the age of four yet?"

The goal had been accomplished. I had stayed the whole day at the grounds and suffered rash treatment of parents and children who suddenly decided their sires scorn was justified and I deserved punishment for it. I knew kids were supposed to emulate their parents, but not to that extent. Where was the rebelliousness?

I glowered at the dark silhouette of one of my watchers.

"I'll go home, happy now?"

I walked off, muttering about the wretchedness of children and my useless overseers.

·

I reported my failure at the playground in a dull monotone to Kakashi at the first chance I got and was hit with a candy stick in return. I ducked out of surprise and stayed still for quite some time before reality sat in.

When I started complaining another piece of hardened sugar was thrown my way, and from the way his eyes curved I guess he had plenty more where they came from.

I stopped before the man unintentionally gave me diabetes.

"This is not how you should deal with kids, depressed or not." I said sulkily, turning the bright red candy stick around in my tiny hands.

His response made me snort. "But it works."

Sure, give the child a sugar overdose. That solves everything.

It would be nice if it was that way.

My reputation was really beginning to be a problem. I was not responsible for any household chores or management of funds at the moment, but I would be in a couple of years, and when that time came I would be hard pressed to find a store willing to let me buy anything at fair prices. If I could solve the little problem with my appearance being well known, then a lot of potential conflicts in the nearest future would cease to exist.

I eyed the ninja in front of me, wanting to face palm when the solution was so apparent.

"Nii-san." I had worked on my puppy eyes, so I was sure they looked completely sincerer. "If you really want to help, then don't give me sugar." He was beginning to retreat, a wary expression on his face. "Grabbing the root of the problem, that's the most efficient way, no?" If the glances towards door were any indication, then he had gotten quite good at reading me. "So teach me the Henge technique!"

His one visible eyebrow rose a bit, and he stopped looking like for an escape. For a moment I actually thought he was considering, but then came the doubting words. "You're three."

I thought we had established I was different from most other kiddies my age by now.

"And you're point is?"

"You're three. Try to enjoy your childhood a bit before throwing it away."

No matter what argument I used he refused to give in to my simple request, and the day was spent glaring at the copy-nin from across the shogi board. It did not help I was still terrible at the game, so he won nine times out of ten. Some part of me was even dubious that I won by my own power those few times I did.

It annoyed me more than I liked, that he refused me. Even sensible reasons like self-protection had been shut down, and I was horrible aware of the fact that being generally hated did not lessen the chance of a murderers getting me in my sleep. Who knew what my earlier stunt with the clerk had stirred of dark emotions in the villagers. If plot did not dictate this world then that small change could mean the difference between life and death.

If the ninjas watching over me were as incompetent as I feared, then it would be easy for an assassin to end me.

Not a nice way to go.

While cleaning up after the game one of the king pieces dropped to the floor, the one I had begun to think of as my own because I almost always had the piece symbolizing the lower ranked player. I reached for it, and froze at a sudden epiphany at the sight of the lone piece lying on the floor.

I was only half aware of laughing manically afterwards.

·

"We have already talked about this…" I had a Hokage frowning at me. If I had not initiated the talk about the current subject, I would have been cautious and started regressing to more childlike behavior in order to appear innocent.

"Yes, but the incident beforehand can be said to have had an influence on that agreement." I pointed out, unable to hide the underlying glee in my words. "Furthermore, this is not about making explosive or dangerous seals, but purely defensive. I have had a year to experiment under yours and Kakashi's watchful eyes, and nothing have blown up yet."

"In that time 23 dangerous seals have been barely stopped from being activated."

"Two thirds of those were in the first month." I crossed my arms in front of my chest defensively. "That's normally called progression."

The old man sighed. "What prompted this idea?"

"Being hated?" My brows knitted. "Is that not a legitimate reason to worry? Fūinjutsu seems to be a versatile art, so the idea that is capable of making barriers isn't that strange. And since you have not disproved my theory, it seems my idea have merit."

"Learning an art without a teacher is close to impossible." The Hokage countered with.

I grinned and barely stopped at raising one finger and waggling it. "Necessity is the mother of invention"

His gaze darkened. "One mistake could cost you your life, Naruto."

"No pain, no gain." I sobered and sat up straight, trying to scold every line in my body and face to spell seriousness. "Not learning now could mean the same cost in a couple of years. Give me an advantage in this vast world, and it would lessen the chance of me experiencing an early demise."

A tense moment passed by, before the man's shoulders sank in defeat.

"I'll allow you to experiment with defensive seals, if you tell me the truth about what made you consider this."

I blinked in surprise. "A lonely shogi piece on the floor. Without anyone else, it's nothing. It has no means of protecting itself but can only run until it's caught. It can eject no shields, employ no defensive maneuvers or hide away." My lips stretched in a humorless smile. "Humans have so many other options, no? I decided to use what resources I have to try and fix my problem, and only Fūinjutsu seemed like a passable solution at the moment."

He shook his head slightly. "I must get back to my office. Try not to get overboard with it."

In the excitement I almost forgot about my other plan. We exchanged our customary parting words, and it was first when he had turned his back to me that that I remembered the other question I needed to ask.

"Oh, and Jiji?" The fact that one plan was progressing nicely, did not mean I had to be satisfied. "Can I get dye to my hair? Even a bit of cosmetics would be helpful."

It was clear to see the refusal in his gaze, and I tried to swallow the worst of the bitter disappointment before he voiced it.

"Perhaps when you're older."

Age perception; you're quite the bitch, aren't you?

"At least gift me a mask or something at my next birthday," I ended up mumbling, painfully aware I was months away from the grand date. At least I had something to do with the time I spent trapped indoors.

It was not inactivity I was going to die of before reaching four years of age.

·

My experiments proved mostly unsuccessful. Some ideas sprouted and withered the same day they came into being, other were scribbled down after countless testing and gained the status of being a possible truth. I felt like a scientist overlooking the stacks of paper of theories, failed experiments and successful seals.

But my results so far were not important, if I could not utilize them in battles.

My birthday came and went without much fanfare, just a lot of drunks and people walking around like zombies outside my windows.

I did not realize the true limitations of wearing a mask before my first meeting with Kakashi after the 10th October.

It was a cold and windy autumn day, but I had taken the copy-nin by his hand and pulled him with me outside in the less than favorable weather. I had noticed his unconcealed surprise when I had greeted him in the door, but no commentaries were directed towards my new accessories.

By now I was only waiting for the mocking to begin, and I actually felt a great deal of anticipation to the following banter.

He glanced at me in the corner of his eye, like he was trying not to stare, but curiosity was winning. Then he cracked. "So, where did you get the mask?"

I grinned behind the safety of the mask and responded curtly. "Birthday gift from Jiji. I asked for it." More like begging than asking, but it was practically the same, just a more extreme version. "Didn't see any from you, nii-san."

"Still searching." Bad move, Kakashi. Now my standards had just risen, and anything below awesome was so not going to cut it. "So… why?"

"Masks are very stylish." I dramatically flashed my eyelashes at him. "I though you knew all about that."

"And the bandana?" He was giving me an 'eye smile' now. "Has that also become very fashionable?"

"Let's just say, it's an experiment." I fingered the dark clothes with a frown. It would be very uncomfortable in the summer. "One's that has been quite successful until now, even if I look ridiculous." We were walking past people, and no one was glaring at me. It that was not success, the definition of the word had changed.

"I thought masks were 'stylish', Naruto." Was he actually teasing me? It was so hard to tell with this guy. "Are you so quickly going back on your words?"

"Truth change in accord with how reality is perceived." I replied automatically. "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." A smile awoke in memory of the quote. "Right now my opinion is placed firmly on 'this is the goofiest getup I've ever worn'."

He gave a nod in agreement. "As long as you never show up in any pink dresses, you'll be fine."

Another grin was hidden due to the mask, but he seemed to sense it, since regret flashed across his face. His eye narrowed at me. "I'll be long gone, before you find me if you show up in that. And no, you don't get to choose any kind of clothes for me since you're wearing a mask today."

I pouted for a second, the mask getting in my way, since the action accomplished nothing if the other part could not see it.

That was it. The mask was coming off as soon as I got home.

"I'm surprised you're staying silent" Kakashi lightly commented, and I snorted at the failed attempt at subtlety. The man was actually worried about me on some level.

I directed my wide blue eyes in his direction, trying to make them as watery as possible. He did not look impressed. "I think covering half my face left me clawless. My techniques do not hold the same power with only the eyes behind them, so I think it would be best to wait before having a discussion about the subject."

"The mask is temporary then." The man was terrible at being discrete.

"There are a lot of disadvantages to wearing a mask I had not considered." I said tactfully. "How easy do you think it would be to get patches to cover my scars and some hair dye from a shop?"

"Naruto" The copy-nin stood still and forced me to stop as well, unless I wanted to leave the man behind. He had an aura around him which spelled seriousness, and I could only glare back at him with a dull eyes. The muggles around us didn't even glance at us. I wondered if they knew my name, or only had a description of my appearance to go after.

I did not need another lecture.

"Kakashi." I echoed mockingly.

He sighed. "Why are you this determined at hiding yourself?" The man probably already knew, and was only asking since he could not make a big speech before I admitted my reasons.

"Pretty obvious, no?" The sarcasm was practically dripping of my words. "Either you teach me the Henge, or I'll have to search for another way to solve this problem. Call it a birthday gift if you want, it'll be the best one I've ever had." Discounting those in my former li… reality. Damn, don't start thinking about this as your current life. "Please." I used no begging tone nor did I try to use any sort of adorable expression in order to convince him, but somehow it was the most sincere I had said since coming here. "I need your help."

The man took a deep breath before closing his eye. Conflict was visible in the tense line of his shoulders.

"Fine."

I gasped into my hands which slowly drifted from my mouth and pulled through the strands of my hair. Some part of me wanted to celebrate, another felt weak with relief, and I could not decide which should be allowed to express itself.

In the end I turned toward the grey haired man and embraced his legs, whispering a soft 'thank you' into the dark fabric of his trousers.

Things were finally looking up.

Author's note: We have finally reached a point where time can start to speed up. Yay, time to interact with other characters.