Hola! *whispers* Rui's back~

lovinurburks - No worries, dear! S'no problem. *wink wink* More of that info in the following chapters... hopefully.

Dark Rose Charm - Well, you never know what I have in store for you guys. I just might listen to the majority's pleas. Hihi. But meh, let's see how I'll make it turn out. Hohoho~

fluffpenguin - I actually planned it all out in regards to Naoko's abilities. Know this though, I do not plan to make her overly powerful that the story and her get boring. I'm sure you noticed that it's kind of a slow burn, but it'll all be explained in the future chapters. Please look forward to it! (◎⌒○⌒◎)

The sun was already up when Naoko had awoken from her deep slumber. She had cried herself to sleep last night, because of the dream that she had seen yesterday. She rubbed the sleep off of her eyes, but it didn't help lessen the grogginess she felt.

How long had she fallen asleep? Based on how high up the sun was already, it must've been noon now.

'I wonder why Rin hadn't woken me up yet,' she thought as she stretched her arms over her head. Her bones creaked at the action.

'I need to go apologize to Inori-sensei as well. I think I scared him and Kaori-san.'

Naoko pursed her lips in guilt as she stood up from her bed and prepared for the remainder of the day ahead of her. She had put on a simple, dark green shirt and black shorts. As she stared at the mirror in the bathroom, she saw her reflection.

The image she saw on it made her wince in a mixture of disgust and disbelief. Her eyes were still puffy because of her constant crying yesterday, even after she came back to the orphanage. It earned her questioning looks from the other kids, as well as an inquiry from Shinju—their caretaker—asking if she was alright. But, she just shrugged off everything and headed to bed directly.

"Nao?" Rin called out as she poked her head inside the shared room. Naoko turned her head a little and saw her brunette friend giving her a concerned look.

"I'm here," the red-haired girl mumbled as she dusted off her outfit. "What's up?" Naoko asked, her voice still slightly hoarse.

"Are you alright?" Rin asked, as she stepped inside the room and closed the door behind her. For now, only Naoko and her were the only occupants of the room.

"Yeah," Naoko shortly answered. Her pale red orbs darted all over the room, completely avoiding Rin's huge, brown eyes.

"Are you sure—" She was cut off by a sudden knock on the door.

"Rin, Nao? Are you in there? Obito-kun is looking for you two," they heard Shinju say from the other side of the door.

Naoko saw Rin's eyes suddenly widen and it flashed with realization. The former was puzzled as to what it was, but she was immediately relieved of her confusion.

"It's Obito!" Her friend exclaimed.

"Then, you should go."

Rin looked at her, wondering if she seriously meant what she had just said. She felt that Naoko was acting a little distant today as well. She knew that something had happened yesterday, but Naoko was stubborn and didn't want to confide in her. It hurt her, to be honest. But like what she and Obito had agreed upon the other day, they would wait for Naoko until she wanted to open up to them herself.

"I have to go somewhere today. I need to go to Inori-sensei," Naoko explained upon realizing what Rin's look meant. A sigh escaped her friend's lips, but she was glad that she not questioned any further. Then, she proceeded to get something out from her backpack, which was the leather-bound book that is their remaining family heirloom.

"Alright. This is the second time you're ditching me... and Obito," Rin reminded Naoko, which the latter returned with a lopsided grin.

"Sorry. But it's a little urgent," the Higanbana heiress said, but did not elaborate any further.

"Come with us halfway?" The brunette girl bargained, her eyes pleading silently to her friend.

Naoko pretended to roll her eyes in an exaggerated manner, before she agreed.

"Fine."

The two giggled and headed outside the room and the orphanage to meet up with Obito. He wore the same dark garb and goggles that Naoko had gotten used to seeing on him.

"Rin! Nao!" Obito yelled as soon as he spotted his two female friends. He smiled widely at them, glad that he was finally able to see them.

His lips soon became upturned at the sight of Naoko who looked like she had been to hell and back. Even if she had tried her best to fix the rest of her appearance, her eyes were still a tad bit puffy which made it obvious that she had cried her heart out just recently.

"What happened to you?" He asked bluntly, not noticing the holes that Rin was drilling on his head using her eyes.

Naoko shifted on her feet uncomfortably, not liking the fact that Obito was putting her on the spot. She wanted to smack him upside the head right now for not having any delicacy, but she knew that he meant well. In fact, it's one of the things that she had grown to like of him.

"You know, just remembered something from the past," Naoko vaguely said. She didn't like lying through her teeth, especially to her friends.

Obito's expression turned grim, yet apologetic. While Rin, she had a thoughtful expression on as if she was analyzing what she had told them.

"Anyway, what are you guys up to today?" She asked, trying to shift the topic away from her. Luckily, Obito had immediately bitten the bait.

"We're supposed to go sight-seeing you know? Because you said the other day that you haven't had the chance to take a closer tour around Konoha," Obito said, his expression as bright as the afternoon sun. Naoko's stomach churned with guilt, after seeing Obito's bright smile and eyes glinting with excitement.

"I'm sorry, but I can't come today Obito," Naoko replied, putting her hands together apologetically and quietly hoping that it would work. After all, she had blew her friends' plans off a lot of times already during the past few days.

"She said that she had to go to Inori-san. Urgent matter." Rin explained briefly to their dark-haired friend whose shoulders slumped in disappointment.

It was obvious that he had been looking forward to this day that the three of them would be able to spend some quality time. And now, Naoko had ruined it for them. She bit her lower lip, not knowing what else to say in order to gain her friends' forgiveness.

"I promise that next time, I will come with you guys for that tour and training." Naoko said, smiling a little at them which they returned in kind.

"That's a promise!" The both of them shouted in unison as they glomped her in a hug, making her laugh and making her forget for a moment.

Naoko wished it was always like this.

Peaceful.

Naoko had separated half-way from Rin and Obito who had decided to head to the park, which was on the other side of the village.

The red-haired girl made her way to the Yamanaka compound, as if she owned the place. She had been going in and out of that place so often that a lot of locals as well as clan members knew her face by now. Well, who wouldn't if you were someone who was close to the head of a prominent clan?

Naoko bowed her head to the older clan members she happened to bump into along the way. As she turned left, she had spotted the familiar back of her silver-haired peer. The Higanbana girl's eyebrow furrowed as she tried to determine why he was currently in this area.

'What is he doing here?' She thought.

A frown settled on her visage as she sped up her pace in order to catch up to Kakashi who was taking his own sweet time to walk. It was as if he was taking a stroll in the park. She noticed him turn his head a little and she knew then, that he had noticed her. Naoko tapped his shoulder, as she finally fell into step with him.

"What?" Kakashi asked.

His tone held no emotion but she could see the surprise at the way his eyebrows rose up and how he had eyed her afterwards, like he was wondering why she was here before it went back to his usual bored expression.

At least, that's what Naoko is telling herself since there had not been a day that Kakashi had removed his mask in front of ever since she met him. She had gotten used to that fact already, and she didn't mind it as much as the first time she had seen it on him.

"Are you heading to Inori-sensei's as well?" Naoko inquired, her gaze on the path ahead of them. She actually already had a nagging feeling by now that Kakashi would be present during the talk that she was going to have with Yamanaka Inori—and maybe, Minato would be there as well.

"Remember to come here tomorrow as well. I want to talk to you some more," Inori had said to Naoko, who had just calmed down from crying so hard. She was about to speak up, but he held out a hand in front of her face to indicate that he wasn't done talking just yet.

"Tomorrow," he said, with a hint of firmness in his voice. "I want you to go home for today. Take a good rest and put your mind at ease." Naoko nodded her head—although, reluctantly—upon seeing the unusual strict glint in her teacher's eyes.

"Oi," she heard Kakashi call out using his usual bored tone—as she had labeled by now.

"What?" Naoko asked as she snapped out of her of thoughts. Kakashi stared at her weirdly.

"We're here," were the only words he said as he let his gaze shift onto the wooden gates of Yamanaka Inori's household.

"Oh," was the only response she could come up with, feeling her face slightly heat up. Naoko cleared her throat in an attempt to relieve the awkwardness between them, before she pushed the gate open.

Kakashi spluttered at her bold action of entering someone else's house without even excusing herself or knocking first, especially to a well-known clan head's house.

"W-What are you doing?!" He asked, his voice raising a few octaves than his normal one, which caught the girl's attention.

This time, it was her turn to look at him weirdly.

"Uhm, I'm coming in. What else?" She said, as she was about half-way inside the premises.

"You can't just do that!"

Naoko's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at what he said.

"Why not? I always came in without knocking though." She retorted, tilting her head to side a little. Kakashi, on the other hand, face-palmed himself at the airheadedness of Naoko. Before the two children could argue any further, Naoko heard the familiar voice of Kaori from the front porch.

"Nao-chan, is that you?" They heard the woman ask, which the girl replied, "Yes, I'm here! Be there in a minute, Kaori-san!"

"What are you waiting for, you dummy?" She grinned teasingly at Kakashi who only rolled his eyes at her, before trailing after her into the Yamanaka clan's head's abode.

Once inside, Kakashi stared in awe at the zen-like vibe their home gave off. It had a plum tree blooming by the front porch, and a small pond with Koi fish swimming in it. There was also the traditional shishi-odoshi that spilled water every time it see-sawed back and forth on the pond.

As for the home, describing it as huge was an understatement. It was a mansion of some sorts. It had red-tiled roofing like how most houses in Konoha were, and dark, wooden-flooring. It complimented the cream-colored walls of the interior of their house. Other than that, it was kept quite simple using wooden furniture which he had been able to see even if only a little.

"It's peaceful, isn't it?" Kakashi heard Naoko mutter under her breath beside him. He slowly nodded his head in agreement as they made their way to the porch where Inori and his wife were sitting in front of small, rectangular, low table.

Across them was their instructor—Minato, who was the only one standing. Although, he was more like leaning against the wall with arms crossed over his chest. He had a small smile pasted on his good-looking visage, and to be honest, it actually unnerved the both of them upon seeing that he was present in this... meeting—or whatever the adults might want call this.

"Inori-sensei, Minato-sensei," Naoko addressed both her teachers and smiled at Kaori who returned it with her own blinding one.

In almost three months of living in Konoha, Naoko had come a long way, in her opinion. From being a bull-headed and sarcastic child (although she still is from time to time depending on the person), into a child that gives due respect to her elders especially to those who deserve it.

Ever since what happened to her clan, she now wanted to treasure every moment that she had of the people who had grown close to her during the short span of time she resided here.

"For starters, the both of you should take your seats. I believe this talk would take a while." Inori motioned to the pair of cushions on the other side of the table across from him and his wife.

The pair of children immediately followed his instructions and settled down, albeit there was reluctance that could be seen from their expressions. Naoko and Kakashi looked at each other, the latter with an unreadable expression despite the mask he was wearing.

"Is this about what happened the other day?" Naoko winced upon remembering how she horridly broke down in front of her chakra sensing instructor slash psychiatrist and his wife, scaring the living daylights out of the latter in the process.

She could see by the corner of her pale, red orbs that her yellow-haired teacher shuffled to take a seat on the far edge of the low table. Kakashi and Kaori on his sides, and directly facing all of them as if he was the head of the family rather than Inori.

On the other hand, Kakashi looked utterly confused about the topic that he could not even follow. He just sat there, wondering what in the Hokage's name was he doing here when it seemed like all of them were ignoring his presence right now.

"Are you talking about the day I sent Kakashi to the training grounds to tell you we had no training?" Minato asked, as he leaned forward. His hands were clasped together and his chin was resting on it, while his eyes were set on Naoko who kept quiet.

Kakashi immediately perked up at the mention of his name. His dark gray eyes shifting from person to person occupying the table. Apparently, they knew something that he didn't, which irritated him somehow because he still couldn't figure out why they needed him here in the first place if they were going to exclude him from the conversation.

'Were they talking about the day when Minato-sensei had to go to a meeting with the Hokage?'

His thoughts were cut off when Naoko sighed beside him. Kakashi observed her brooding expression curiously. She seemed down for some reason—or gloomy, for that matter. The adults kept silent for about a moment, before Inori spoke up once again.

"Minato-kun, I'm sure you're aware about Nao's... circumstances," the Yamanaka's clan head said quietly. "You were the one who brought her here after all." The rest kept quiet, except for Kakashi whose eyes widened at that.

The word surprised was an understatement to describe what he was feeling regarding that revelation. He knew that Naoko was a new face around Konoha because he had not seen her or her parents before that. Otherwise, he'd at least recognize her face. And it was also unusual for some random kid to be assigned to a jounin like Minato so suddenly, when that person had just entered the academy without any prior knowledge about being a ninja.

He looked at Naoko by the corner of his eyes, whom he had seen biting her lower lip thoughtfully. She was fiddling with her fingers as well. A habit that he had taken notice of when she was nervous or out of her comfort zone. Kakashi rarely saw that habit of hers, but his observant nature had just registered that in his mind as if on auto-pilot.

"Is that why she's getting special treatment?" He finally blurted out, pointing his thumb to the direction of Naoko, which she slapped away and took mock offence at what he said. The elders chuckled at the bickering children, before Minato decided to answer his question.

"Yes, but that's only a small part of the reason."

Kakashi made a face behind his mask when his sensei didn't bother explaining any further. Inori cleared his throat, earning him the attention of everyone once more.

"Back to the original topic at hand," he started, linking his fingers together and laying his hands on top of the table. The Yamanaka patriarch stared at Naoko intensely, "Nao, do you know why you're having those... dreams of yours?"

Pale, red orbs met with bluish-green ones. It was as if the two were having a stare-down, battling each other and waiting for the other to crumble under the intensity of each other's gazes. And once more, Kakashi lost them. Just what are they talking about?

Silently, Naoko finally nodded her head slowly, as her hand took something from her right side. It was a leather-bound journal of some sorts. It looked quite fragile in the binding, but other than that, it was still pretty much intact. She just held to it under the sight of the adults with them, possibly waiting for the right moment to reveal it to them.

"I know all about there is to know of my clan," the Higanbana child began in a quiet voice. Kakashi noticed how their elders' eyes widened in unison, while his just narrowed as they waited in suspense.

"After all, I'm the only heiress—the only one left of my clan, in fact." And with that statement, her expression turned grim. An unusual sight for the typically stoic yet snarky girl, but Minato and Inori had already seen it a lot of times especially during the first few days since she came to Konoha.

"Here," the red-haired heiress finally said after a moment's pause. Naoko set the journal on the table, which her mother had labeled as their family heirloom. At once, all eyes were fixated on it. Inori hesitated to reach out for it, before he finally gently grasped the said object in his hand.

He turned to the first page, and what he had read made his eyebrows furrow. And it made everyone sans Naoko, curious, to say the least. His bluish-green orbs continued to scan the words written in the handwriting of Naoko's mother.

"I think you should read this, Minato," the light-haired clan head said as he handed the said journal to the yellow-haired jounin, who gingerly took it and started reading the page it was opened to. His eyebrows shot up in mild surprise, then looked over at Naoko before going back to reading the rest of the contents.

"I don't exactly know what else was written in there. But there were some sort of formulas there using animal's names. My mother hadn't gotten that far to teaching me those yet. She said it was different than what is being originally taught within our clan, and that my generation's case is different," Naoko explained, then trailed off at the end. Her mind drifted off to the memories of her mother that seemed as if it was only yesterday that they were still together.

"I can see why she said that, but that's another topic to be broached for another day." Minato said as he shut the book close, and passed it back to Naoko who hugged it close to her chest.

"Let me get something straight first," Kakashi spoke, his tone held an impatient tone to it seeing as he was ignored for quite some time already.

The adults were trying to avoid disclosing so much confidential information to someone who was not even jounin level yet, but Kakashi understood that. The thing was, why was he asked to come here in the first place? It was the question that was bugging him ever since he stepped foot in the Yamanaka's compound.

"Nao lost her family to... something," Kakashi looked at her briefly before training his eyes on his jounin instructor. "But her mother left her this journal that contains a lot of information about their clan." They all nodded, except for Kaori who just sipped her tea quietly as she listened in to their conversation.

"May I ask what the name of their clan is?" Kakashi dropped the bomb on them so suddenly, that he swore he saw them grimace all at the same time. After all, he still remembered how Naoko had introduced herself to him three months ago to him. She had omitted her family name, and just opted with telling him only her given name.

"It's the Higanbana clan," Naoko quietly responded. Her voice dropping to a soft whisper that was still heard because of the sudden quietness of everyone present.

"You mean that mysterious clan with some special power that's living in isolation in the outskirts of the country?" Naoko nodded at her peer's question. Then, he continued rambling, "But, isn't that impossible? I mean that clan was only a legend. So, they don't really exist, do they?" His eyebrows furrowed, not really believing what she was telling him.

"There's one sitting right beside you. What kind of proof do you need?" She shot back, smirking at him smugly and he turned to glare at her. Inori sighed and clapped his hands to get back their attention.

"Anyway Nao, do you think you could explain to us all about your clan?" Her chakra sensing instructor asked of her, which she responded with a reluctant shaking of her head. Inori frowned when she turned down his request.

"I can't say for now. It isn't the reason why we're all here, including Kakashi," she said, carefully taking a look at her fellow student who went quiet beside her, just staring at the table in front of him. Minato shifted on his seat uncomfortably at what she said.

He knew what his student and elder were talking about. Minato had heard from Inori as soon as he finished with the meeting with the Sandaime the other day. And he didn't know how precious student would react at something that was based on something as intangible as a dream. But it wasn't only a mere dream. It was a dream that Naoko had gotten. And seeing that her lineage was not something to be trifled with when it comes to that, was enough as some sort of basis or warning for all of them to keep on their toes.

Minato watched as Naoko shifted her body in order to face her peer, and he saw that Kakashi turned his head to look at her properly. She took a deep breath before she started speaking again.

"Kakashi, may I ask where uncle Sakumo is?" His eyebrows furrowed at the question but he responded, although he was utterly confused, "He went on a mission. He said it'll take about two weeks. Why?"

The look on Naoko's face sent alarm bells ringing inside Kakashi's head. She looked absolutely horrified upon hearing his reply. He knew enough about the legend of their clan to know what's going on. He knew that they had premonitions regarding the future through dreams, but he didn't want to believe it. Especially, when they were talking about their father. There was just something unsettling in the manner she had spoken about his only remaining family. It made his blood ran cold.

"I-Inori-sensei!" Naoko shot up from her seat, startling everyone. Her journal tumbling off from her lap. Her eyes were filled with tears that were about to spill, and she looked at Inori heart-brokenly that he couldn't bear looking at her for a moment longer.

"W-What's happening? What are you not telling me? What happened to dad?" Kakashi questioned the adults who suddenly went quiet, unlike earlier where they were still actively discussing anything and everything there is. Panic slowly took over the silver-haired boy's senses as he gripped the table so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

To his right, he could hear Naoko sobbing as she flopped back down on the cushion beside him. Her tiny hands covered her face, as she cried her heart out. And he knew that something terribly wrong was going on that they were trying so hard to keep from him.

Finally, it was Minato who broke the tensed silence sans the fact that Naoko was still sobbing.

"Naoko had a dream," he swallowed his saliva. His throat momentarily closing up a little, not wanting to be the bearer of bad news to his precious, precious student. "And in that dream, she saw you," Minato paused momentarily, closing his eyes before opening them again to reveal a pair of blue orbs that glinted darkly even in the morning light.

"She saw you, and you told us that your father—Sakumo-san—passed away," were the words Kakashi heard from his sensei.

Then, everything in his mind went blank.

[A/N]: Hey, Rui here! ＼（*´∇｀*）／ *insert evil laughter*

I hope you liked the recent update, although I apologize if it's a little late. I've been quite busy with school works and worrying pointlessly. LOL.

And it's Holy Week! I'll be out with my family to the northern part of the country—specifically, to Sagada, so I won't be able to update this week aside from this.

And that's the reason why it's a bit longer than usual, even though there's a cliffhanger at the end. Hihi. But I really want to keep the suspense for a while, although some of you might die of heart or panic attack. Forgive me! （๑￫∀￩๑）

Anyway, thank you for the continuous support and love you are giving this story!

Rui loves you guys a lot!

Until the next update~ ＼ （ ＠＾◇ ＾＠）／