Arc One: Hitomi's Childhood

Chapter Six

Summary: Hitomi wasn't a people pleaser. But at the same time she wanted them to be happy. Hard thing to balance. Never bothered her though.

Thursday update? What is this madness.

As promised, here is Chapter Six, just so you know I hate this chapter.

TamashinoSuzume- Your review cracked me up, like seriously, but just so you know I wrote this chapter before your review and hopefully it explains the disappointment part. So yeah, thanks for the review!

Darkdust27- I love when girls aren't just weak little things but can whoop 'em like the rest. Honestly girls have to work so much hard, and Hitomi is no different, I'm planning so much crap for her to go through. It's going to suck but we can't have a Mary Su with a perfect life. That just wouldn't do :) Thanks for your comment!

Important A/N at the end!

"Hitomi!"

The call for help came from Kakashi, but Hitomi was having a hard time breathing. Doubled over on the ice she clutched her stomach with one and held herself up with the other. She had taken a hit to the gut, that just so happened to be coated with chakra. She could feel the foreign chakra swirling inside, it hadn't just hit and dissipated like she was taught about by Kinuki-sensei, but instead when his palm made contact and knocked the breath right out of her, it was like he had pumped extra chakra in, in those two seconds of contact. Then Kakashi had attacked the man again and she was struggling to breath.

"Hitomi!"

Hitomi glances up and sees Kakashi struggling against the broad shouldered man. He was pinned to the ice, the mans hand around Kakashi's neck. The ice under them cracked and they plunged into the ice water.

Have to protect... friends. With a burst of chakra she darts forward, and dives in. Grabbing Kakashi's leg she stopped him from drowning. But then there was a hand on her foot, dragging her down and by extension, Kakashi. Without thinking she was gathering chakra to her hand and aiming it for the man-

Hitomi tenses in the hospital bed, eyes opening wide. She was definitely up for good this time. The nightmares had been happening since she had first tried to go to sleep when her mother had left.

Aiko had left hours ago, apparently she wasn't allowed to stay past visiting hours even though she was her mother. Hitomi wouldn't lie, that felt rigged.

The clock beside her said two thirty am, and she huffs and tosses again. Turning away from the door before shooting up and away from the dark figure that just came in her window. She let out a squeak as she started to fall from the bed, the moonlight catching on the stranger now, revealing it was only Minato.

With his quick speed, her fall had been stopped and she was being lifted from the air and being set on the bed, he made a 'tsk tsk' sound.

"Now now, Hitomi-chan." He chides, "now is not the time to be falling from bed and getting a concussion."

Hitomi glares, trying to ease her racing heart. "Why can't you just use the door?" She crosses her legs, grabbing her pillow and placing it on her lap. She was glad that she had so much pain meds pumped into her, or her ribs would be screaming.

He gave a look, "visiting hours are over Hitomi-chan. Don't want me to get caught, do you?"

Hitomi looks down, ignoring the urge to roll her eyes. "So what do you want then?" She mumbles, chakra exhaustion was not something she ever wanted to encounter again. And if she was honest, she would say that she liked Minato being here- she liked not being alone.

"Just checking up on you," he shrugs, leaning back in the padded wooden chair. "It's your first night in the hospital. And you're alone." He shrugs again, placing his elbows on his knees.

Hitomi nods weakly, pulling at the fuzz on blanket. She felt him examining her, and analyzing their current situation. She didn't know for what but she knew the feeling up in the air. It was one everyone she encountered in her life had upon seeing her. This was the air in the tea room at Hoshi earlier today.

"You wanna tell me what happened?"

Hitomi didn't want to talk about anything. She knew he was mad at her for using his jutsu without permission and without supervision. It was stupid of her. She didn't want to look in his eyes, so she focuses on the tiny strings. She was terrified of seeing the look in his eyes.. the one Hamatsu had. She swallows thickly.

"Hitomi-chan?" Minato says softly, reaching out slowly towards her hand.

Hitomi flinches, clenching her eyes tight and turning away.

"Hitomi-chan, use your words," he tries again, "talk to me."

Hitomi shakes her head.

"You don't trust me do you?" Minato sighs, pulling his hand away.

"What?" Her eyes snap open, "yes- ... no-..." Her voice breaks, "I don't know!"

Minato listens intently, Hitomi noticed his gaze held no judgement.

"I just... I'm too afraid..." she breaks off, shaking her head and fisting the sheets in her hand.

"Scared of what?" Minato's voice was nothing but a whisper. The pounding in her ears was to much.

"Everything!" She exclaims, "how can I even do anything?! I'm just a kid! I can't even protect my friends. He told me-" her throat tightens and she frowns deeply, shaking her head.

"It's alright Hitomi-chan." He urges softly.

Hitomi shakes her head with more force, "I disappointed him." She whispers, a tear sliding down her cheek, "I just wanted to save my friends. But at what cost? My sensei's trust? Nearly my life? Nearly theirs! But he... I didn't mean to." More tears started to slip from her mask and she sniffs. A heavy hand falls on her head, and she tenses.

Looking up through her bangs, lashes and tears she sees a bright smile.

"Hitomi." He says, "your sensei just wants you to be safe. He's not disappointed at what you did. He's disappointed that you wanted to hide it- that you didn't trust him with this. He would help you with anything you ask for."

Hitomi lowers her head, clenching her eyes shut, her heart constricting.

"In fact, Hamatsu would love for an opportunity to gain your trust..." Minato explains, "your fear is real, and that's okay. You can work on that. You'll have to- you want to protect your friends?" He asks.

She nods.

"You'll have to work hard, Obito and Kakashi are both equally dense and they are going to need your help a lot." He chuckles, "trust Hamatsu to protect you and to fill in the gaps of your weaknesses."

Minato's gaze softens as she sniffs again with a nod. He picks the girl up and holds her closely, sitting on the bed.

"Just talk to him." He adds, softer, "that's a good way to know where you stand. And that will help with the trust situation. The action behind those words is what you need to see." He lays back against the pillow tucking Hitomi to his side, he starts out putting soothing chakra,

Minato glances down after a few minutes, feeling her tears stop, and her heart beat slow. Hitomi's eyes fell closed.

He chuckles, "you don't know yet, but Hamatsu is a good prankster. You two can bond over that, I'm sure." Minato falls silent as her breathing fully stabilized. It was a good start. Falling asleep in this state wasn't something he himself enjoyed doing. And he only did do it when someone he trusted stayed close the whole time. The minute they left him alone unconscious, he would begin waking up, his training just wouldn't allow him to sleep.

"Hear that 'Matsu?" Minato says into empty air, feeling the man in the shadows by the door. "She thinks you're mad at her."

Hamatsu sighs, "It's been a rough day." He says instead of answering. "Tou-san has called for a meeting with all the children for a debriefing in the morning. The Jounin involved too."

"Right." Minato nods, "I'll watch over her tonight and bring her to you in the morning." He pulls the blanket up around her.

Hamatsu nods, and disappears.

Hitomi wanted to shift uncomfortably, but felt the eyes of the shinobi and the Hokage and thought better of it.

All the students involved sat around the table, the Hokage sitting at the head, and their clan heads behind each one respectably.

Behind her, Hamatsu crosses his arms.

To her right Kakashi sat, Minato and Sakumo behind him, both with their jounin outfits on.

To her left, Shisui and Fugaku, he also matched Sakumo, Minato, and Hamatsu. Obito on Shisui's other side.

Asuma sat on the other side of Kakashi, with his mother behind him. He was closest to the Hokage on their side.

Across from them Anko, Rin, Ebisu, Genma, and Kurenai sat in the order left to to right. Kurenai sitting closest to the Hokage, with her father behind her. Anko had her sensei behind her- Orochimaru, he was decked out in his ninja gear, forehead protecter on his forehead and hair drawn back. Rin had her father, he was wearing casual clothes but had a head band hanging from his belt. Ebisu had his mother- who donned a med nins outfit. And Genma had his father, standard chunin/jounin outfit.

"Is this everyone?" Sandaime questions.

"Hai." Sakumo nods.

"Where is Tsunade?"

"She left late last night." Sakumo rubs the back of his neck, "said she didn't want to be any more involved." With the village hung heavily in the air.

"It can't be helped," Hokage waves his hand, "Now that we've all gathered, let's begin."

Then there was multiple tellings of the events from half the students. Hitomi sat quiet and listened to each of them. Grimacing at times but otherwise remaining emotionless. When a certain jounin would look down on her or when the Hokage would stare at her intently she would focus on who ever was talking. Not meeting eye contact at all.

"Hitomi-chan." Sandaime addresses her specifically and she forces her body to stay calm. "How did you move your friends?"

Hitomi glances towards Minato, "I used ten kunai with Minato-san's seals."

He nods thoughtfully, "and did Minato teach you this seal?"

"No." Hitomi says without hesitation.

"How did you learn them then?" He raises a brow.

Hitomi sighs inwardly. "I took a few of his scrolls a few months ago and taught myself." She's so screwed.

Sandaime laughs.

Minato's head drops.

"You took them you say?" Sandaime glances between her and the blonde.

Shisui rolls his eyes, and Obito tries to hide his grin. Otherwise there was varying levels of astonishment from her friends.

"Yes, Sandaime-sama." Hitomi nods.

"And just how did you get into one of my jounins' homes without being caught?"

Hitomi had a niggling feeling that Sandaime already knew these answers and there was some hidden motive, she didn't know it though, so she shrugs, "the front door was unlocked."

"Oh?" Sandaime raises a brow again.

Hitomi nods, "And from there the seals weren't too difficult."

From there they moved to odd topics like who gave the orders and why the others followed without question. Once again there was raised brows her way.

And from there things just got more complicated. Now that knew so much about her she couldn't just shrink back into the shadows. It was bad enough at lunch yesterday with all those clan heads. She still couldn't fathom why Sakumo or Hamatsu would pull something like that. What was the point of all of this? Hitomi's head starts to pound and she lifts a hand to rub her forehead quietly. Not five minutes later Hokage dismissed everyone, telling all to write out a detailed description of what happened. He told Hamatsu to get her back in the hospital and checked out.

And in a very quick Body Flicker they were in her hospital room.

Hitomi sighs at the white walls and avoids looking to her sensei who stands against the wall at the foot of her bed.

They both stayed silent as Fumiko came in gave her a checkup, declaring she could go home today, as long as she took it easy on her ribs.

Hitomi silently watched from the corner of her eyes as they exchanged a look and Fumiko smiles softly and shakes her head as she leaves.

From then it was the waiting game.

She had never initiated conversation first with her sensei. She flinched upon that revelation. Her head stays down and she lost track of time. She felt his eyes on her the whole time and she then knew he would easily out wait her.

Of course he can. He can do everything. Anything.

She's four. She frowns. She couldn't understand her adversity to trusting in someone else. It's not like she had a choice anyways... it just didn't make sense. But she has no choice. As that sunk in it was oddly painful. And tears sprung up behind her closed eye lids. Her fists clenched the sheet tight.

"I'm sorry sensei." She whispers, in a broken tone.

"You're right." He says nonchalantly. "You are sorry." He adds, and she tenses, "quite pitiful actually. We're going to have to do something about that. No student of mine can look like that."

Her eyes flew open, and her head snaps up to stare at him with wide eyes.

He was smiling warmly. Golden eyes swimming with silent laughter. "Honestly Hitomi." He says in mock exasperation. "We can work on it." He shrugs seriously.

Hitomi stares. What the heck?... He's on drugs. She decides. Was that all he wanted?.. seriously? Her eyes narrow. Did I just get played?

"You have academy in the morning." He sighs, "we should probably get you home."

Hitomi groans, throwing herself back on the bed. Hamatsu chuckles and picks her up easily. She slumps onto his shoulder, hiding her face in his neck.

"I don't want to go to school!" She whines, "why was my whole Sunday wasted in a meeting?"

"Get used to it." Hamatsu snorts, "you're my student so you're pretty much screwed for life."

"Oh great." She blows some hair off her nose.

Hamatsu just laughes again.

Before Hamatsu had taken her home, they had went and pulled a prank! Hitomi was shocked at first that he was mentioning doing such a thing but quickly shook it off and let him take lead. It was a prank on a few jounin, and it made her insides turn giddily. She had never pulled a prank on nin that high before. She knew better.

But something she heard from passing jounin had stuck with her.

They had been talking about Sakumo. And from their tones it wasn't good... she had hesitated and listened, hearing only about him doing 'something' bad. But not hearing what he did. She felt her blood boil when they had called him a disgrace then she had left. Went on with her prank and pretended nothing had happened.

But it worried her even more that for the next few weeks she didn't see him. He had dropped Kakashi's stuff off while she was at the academy and Kakashi had stayed over nearly three weeks while he was gone.

And only then did she see him. He came to Hoshi and him and her mother shared a few words and she had stealthily watched. Noting the utter exhaustion in his features. It struck deep in her heart. His eyes looked dead. Once finished with her mother who nodded sadly, he had silently turned to her and pasted a smile on his face. It looked genuine, it lacked it's usual mirth but he still gave her a real smile.

"Sensei?" She smiles in return.

"Come on," he nods to the door, "I have something for you and Kakashi."

Hitomi nods immediately, jumping from the counter and onto his back, pretending she couldn't see the looks the shinobi gave Sakumo as they left.

They ended up in the training grounds, Kakashi already there and doing some kata. He waved Kakashi over and the three sat on the ground. Sakumo pulled out two sheathed blades and hands one to each of them.

Hitomi carefully pulled hers out, noting that it was a standard tanto. Why would Sakumo give her a tanto? It's a straight-blade, with a small, circular hand-guard. Looking to the side Kakashi seemed to have the same thing, but he had a look of realization on his face. Apparently wanting to test it he stood and started to test moves ten feet from them.

With every slice Kakashi made it gave off a white streak of chakra, Hitomi watches in awe.

She looks to Sakumo and raises her brows, he chuckles,

"Go on." He nods, "Try yours."

Hitomi leaps to her feet, moving away and slashing out. With every move she made a black streak would follow her blade. She was so in awe as she moved it. She didn't even know Sakumo possessed such a blade- but then the name White Fang suddenly clicked into place. She giggles happily, sheathing the blade and launching herself at him.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She whispers, "thank you!" There were tears in her eyes that she closed tightly, a feeling balled up in her gut as Sakumo returned the hug.

Much to her surprise, Kakashi jumped on her back, hugging tightly around them both. Sakumo laughes loudly at this and Hitomi just holds on tighter. The feeling in her gut was quickly turning into a bad feeling and she just wanted to push it away, deal with it later and just enjoy the moment they were in. She wished she could stay like that.

The moment felt so perfect.

Too perfect.

It wouldn't last.

Of course it wouldn't last.

Three nights later, it was a Friday night, Hoshi was packed as norm.

Hitomi sat in her favorite spot, book in hand. All of her friends were out, or busy, leaving her to herself. She felt oddly at peace. Her bad feeling had faded, curled up in the back of her mind, repressed. And she casually clicks a page of her book, automatically spreading her senses out. That had become the norm, trying to find each of her friends in the village, no matter how far they were, she would look for their chakra.

She had already found Shisui and Obito. The two were having a sleep over at Obito's house, his grandmother was in the front room sipping tea.

She had also found Rin, Kurenai and Anko who were enjoying some tea and dango at a shop near Konoha Staduim.

Asuma and her sensei were in their back yard, working with chakra blades.

Minato and Kushina were in their apartment, cooking and dancing to some music. Kushina tripped over Minato's foot and he gracefully caught her and swooped her low and planted a kiss. Hitomi rolled her eyes, having seen Minato subtly trip the woman on purpose. Kushina fell for it though (literally, actually) Smooth, Minato. Smooth.

Genma and Ebisu were at the hot springs and that was all she would say about that.

And then she found Kakashi, who was snuggling up to his pillow, he jumps when the thunder over head would boom. Making Hitomi laugh as she flipped her page. And on the other half of their large home, there was Sakumo. In his bedroom. She frowns. His chakra was fluctuating. It picked up in speed, hammering and dropping before hammering again- then it was fading. It was growing smaller and smaller. Her heart clenched.

Jumping up, Hitomi makes a run for the door of Hoshi, heading for the rain. Aware that her mother was yelling after her.

She hits the roof tops, and moving top speed through the pelting rain. She felt the hot tears as the what if's started plaguing her mind and she shook them from her head violently.

But before she can jump down to Kakashi's house an arm wraps tightly around her shoulders, effectively stopping her. She didn't even fight it. Feeling Kakashi move into his father's room, as the thunder storm picks up. Kakashi's chakra spikes.

Hitomi looks up silently, a plea in her eyes. Her sensei stares down at her, leaving her unable to figure out what he was silently communicating. She hadn't even realized he had moved from his home, and with how quick he had intercepted her he had to have used a lot of chakra to move so quickly.

"What are you hoping to find down there?" Hamatsu asks, the thunder drowning him out. He was knelt beside her on one knee, his right arm over her shoulders holding her close to him and by extension, his warmth.

Hitomi's gaze wavers and she looks back to the house where she felt Kakashi's chakra start to fluctuate harder.

Hitomi tips her head down. Hot tears rolling down her cheeks and mixing with the icy rain. Her body felt too cold. Her sensei's body heat only further reminding her of the difference in temperatures. She leans back into him. An emptiness starting to settle deep inside.

The funeral was the next afternoon.

Lord Hokage had made it so apparently. Otherwise it probably would've been Sunday or maybe even Monday. Either way Hitomi was there, holding her mothers hand. Both wore all black. Had silent tears going down her cheeks but Hitomi just held it in. She hadn't seen Kakashi yet, she was curious to see if he was crying or if like always, emotionless.

The funeral was to start any moment now, the Hokage himself would say a few words.. Speaking of Hokage, he was off to her right, talking to Hamatsu and the man who would stand in as Hatake clan head until Kakashi turns sixteen and could take over himself. All three looked solemn. She waited until the stand in clan head walked away before approaching them. As she went she pulls out a book from her pockets. It was worn to its seems. Obviously having been in use often for many years. It was a fiction. Jiraiya had wrote it, never published it but made a few copies and gave them to his friends to read over themselves and to critique.

She stops in front of Sandaime, rocking on her heels.

"Hokage-sama." She greets quietly.

"Hitomi-chan," he nods, "shouldn't you be with your mother?"

Hitomi nods, and not knowing how to start she holds out the book, "it was his favorite..." she says weakly, looking down at her feet. "He... can he..." she clenched her eyes tightly. Feeling stupid inside for asking in the first place. But before she could retreat Hokage had taken the book. She glances up to see him nodding.

"That's very thoughtful of you, Hitomi-chan." He smiles warmly. "Run along now, we need to begin."

Hitomi nods quickly, running back to her mothers side.

The funeral itself was quick. Lord Hokage spoke, a few others spoke, then it was time to say goodbye to Sakumo and give Kakashi their condolences.

Holding the white flower in her hand, she spun it deftly between two fingers. It didn't seem good enough to her. How could a flower and a few words show her appreciation? She could never find enough words to show how much he did for her. So as her mother and her stepped forward to place the roses on the closed casket, her mother didn't look surprised when she laid down a blue crystal rose, the white one enclosed safely in the center, where it would be preserved.

Stepping over to Kakashi, Hitomi jumps forward to wrap her arms around her stoic not-friend. Once again in the last week she found herself surprised by Kakashi as he lifted a hand to her back.

No words were needed as they stood there. Kakashi's emotions were raging in his dark eyes but they calmed significantly as Hitomi continued to hold him. Only after a solid minute did she let him go and step back, giving him a warming smile, his eyes widened at that. And he looks down silently,

"Can.." He whispers, glancing between Hitomi and Aiko. "Can you..? Please stay..." His plea was met with a nod from Aiko.

"You can keep her." Hitomi nods too, "you need her more than I do right now." she happily agrees, despite the situation.

Aiko smiles softly, moving to stand behind Kakashi, gently rubbing his shoulders.

Hitomi then agrees to find him later, and get his study work from the academy while he took his leave. His lip twitched up in return, and he nodded in agreement. Hitomi didn't want to stay any longer than she had to. And knowing Kakashi would be in good hands with her mother, she leaves immediately to find her sensei.

Months later, she was working on her sealing with Hamatsu and Minato. Swirling her paint brush over the paper, she stuck her tongue out happily, creating an explosive tag.

Hamatsu and Minato stood a few feet away discussing this and that - she didn't care to listen in - but had picked up something along the lines of a new seal Jiraiya had created.

Hitomi hadn't even realized that her thoughts had started wandering to the saddening topic that was her first sensei, when there was a solid 'crack'.

Both Hamatsu and Minato turns, Hitomi bent over her scroll. Her hair shading her face and tears dripping onto the paper.

The snap they heard was the brush in her right hand snapping. Both her fists were balled and pushed to the ground. The one that held the broken wood had been cut and now dripped blood to the grass and paper.

"Not like that Hitomi-chan." Sakumo chuckles warmly, "you'll blow yourself up doing it that way." He fixes her seal as she huffs, crossing her arms.

"Why do I need to know how to make them? Can't I just buy them?" She asks with a sulk.

"Knowing this could save your life one day Hitomi-chan." He replies seriously. "So, let's try this again, ..."

Hitomi clenches her eyes tighter, pushing away the memory of Sakumo teaching her how to make and safely activate the seal.

Hamatsu kneels cautiously in front of his student.

"Hitomi-chan?" He questions softly.

The girl let's out a long shaky breath. Half a year ago she would have hated being this vulnerable in front of Hamatsu. He had been her sensei for a year, they had been close for most of that time. So instead of receding into herself, she now let herself break down, "It hurts."

Hamatsu glances to her hand. A small feeling lit inside his chest as he looks back to her face. The feeling said that it wasn't her hand that was hurting her now, he slowly began reaching for her hand anyways.

She shakes her head. "Not there." She raises a bloody palm to her chest. Blood coating her shirt. "Here."

Hamatsu sighs. Him and Minato were just discussing the other day that Hitomi hadn't been dealing with the death properly. She was handling it, but not letting it go. Not fully accepting it. He realized it was something he would have to teach her.

"I know Hitomi-chan." He whispers, wrapping his arms around her small frame, "I know."

A/N Please no comments about whiney Hitomi. She's four. At that age, kids have a hard time figuring out what they are feeling and an even harder time figuring how to respond to the feelings. Fear not. Whiney Hitomi is gone! Read below \/ \/.

Important A/N This is the last chapter to Arc One. Hitomi's childhood is over, next chapter she becomes a genin. Which is why she will no longer be considered a 'child' but a full on ninja.

Next, we move into Arc Two: Team Work.