DISCLAIMER- I'm too poor to own any of this shit. Like, seriously. Student.
….
The passage of time was a funny old thing.
...there's not really much else to say. Except, to express that, sometimes, we want it to just...not.
...or to turn back.
….
Itachi was going to be fine.
Well, physically.
He had passed out on way back to the village, exhausted from activating his Sharingan, but was let out of the Hospital within an hour of my arrival. The majority of his injuries, superficial wounds from kunai and some exploding tags, were overshadowed by the tragic fate of his teammates.
They'd both died.
I wasn't sure if the butterfly effect could be so serious, if my treatment of Itachi had somehow affected his life so he was maybe a foot in another direction or whatever and, somehow, they'd both been killed.
I couldn't really theorise on it, not being allowed to be told anything about a mission. The only reason I knew so much? Mikoto and my previous knowledge, the sketchy outline of Itachi's earlier life.
He was completely silent – which, when you got to know him, was completely different from his usual quietness – and merely accepted his families concern with very little reaction.
I could see the careful look in Shisui's eye a mile away. But, I doubt the others did.
"I'm glad you're all healed up, Itachi," I murmured patting his hand and purposely not saying that he was 'fine'. He wasn't, and I wasn't going to even hint at him being otherwise. Itachi was a very sensitive soul, poetic in a way, and I could see how he'd been hurt. His eyes were almost bruised, like a terrible wound carefully tucked away, and seeing it made me swallow hard.
It felt like a pact, stood in between the two boys who would plot to save their clan. Shisui's hand was like a vice around mine and Itachi's trembled minutely, so slight I could only tell with his palm pressed to mine.
He didn't let go until the nurse came in to discharge him.
He was ordered to rest and train for the next week, which I figured meant that they didn't know what to do with him, now that he didn't have a team. I had a feeling Fugaku would have him training his Sharingan furiously the entire time.
In normal circumstances, Genma told me, the genin would be drafted into the Genin Corps but, obviously, they weren't going to do that to a prodigy like Itachi.
So, he was, kind of, left hanging for a bit.
Shisui had started spending even more time with his younger cousin. They'd go off into the woods for hours and come back, scruffy like they'd been fighting and smelling of grilled fish. My knowledge, whilst blurring slowly over the years, was still sound and I never bothered them about what they got up to or talked about. I knew well enough. Not just from the anime, but because I knew them. Whilst Shisui and I had been around the Head family for a long time, we'd never discussed our views on...ahem…lifestyle, ever.
I'd not even spoken to Shisui about it.
So, when the two boys would go off for hours, I knew they were bonding on a different level. Before, Shisui and Itachi had just been cousins, training and chatting with the easy familiarity of knowing someone from forever. Now? They were talking like ninja, sounding out their views and building a comradeship that would be one of the strongest, in my opinion, ever formed between two shinobi.
The complete trust Shisui had placed on Itachi's shoulders in the anime/manga, not just with his eye and gifting him the Mangekyou, but knowing without doubt that Itachi could follow through with their ideals, was incredible.
And the faith and dependence that Itachi had to Shisui's final words, even years later? It had made me cry when I watched it.
So, yeah, the boys went off. And, when they were done, they came to Nekki's.
Itachi, still a firm devotee of dango, still seemed to enjoy my creations (and I'd never give up on convincing him but, with his recent difficulties, I'd decided to try a more long-term approach) so I had made it abundantly clear that he was always welcome to drop by. Shisui was already as much a fixture at the stall as the very walls.
A week after he'd been discharged, I was left wondering if Itachi had turned my offer down in his own way. Shisui came over still but I could tell when he'd just been with Itachi; he always looked so pensive, if warm, when he'd spent time with the boy he considered his younger brother.
But then, low and behold, three weeks later and on a Tuesday morning, Itachi came into Nekki's before I'd even opened. And without Shisui.
"Itachi?" I asked in surprise from where I was wiping down the glass screen on the counter. "I'm not open yet, what's up?"
He looked a bit struck when he realised why there weren't any customers so, before he could disappear into thin air, I beamed and told him I'd start the tea.
We'd not even really spoken, simply sipping our tea as the younger boy picked up a broom and started helping me without even asking. Sometimes, I talked about what was the newest thing on the menu and, sometimes, Itachi would quietly tell me what Sasuke had been up to recently.
It was a nice, peaceful moment and, since that first time, we repeated our little ritual once a fortnight or so. On top of that, he would occasionally come in with Shisui and, from the smell of campfire, I knew they'd come from their little training sessions.
The two prodigies weren't the only Uchiha I was worried about, though. Sasuke, maybe spurred on by his brother's activated Sharingan and increasing skills, had taken to begging the two – as in, Shisui and Itachi – for training. Fugaku was certainly cranking up the pressure. Misguided arsehole. And whilst I knew that Sasuke had been considered a bit of a genius himself, I could tell that the void between he and his brother was gradually depressing him. Mikoto, in response, made much more of an effort to make her youngest feel better, whether that was taking him along on her tea-visits to my stall or showing him her old katana's. Nevertheless, Mikoto's interest in introducing Kenjutsu to her second son made it seem like she was taking a considerable hand in Sasuke's training.
I was pretty sure that was more than she'd done in canon.
The vibe I'd gotten from canon!Mikoto was that of a concerned mother, yes, but one who didn't really interfere in her husband's decisions.
This Mikoto was strikingly different.
I didn't know – couldn't say, I wasn't some god looking down and comparing the two – but I thought that maybe it was because she had friends outside of the Clan. She was so much more comfortable walking around the village, no longer looking like the stares of the crowds burned like industrial lasers. Of course, she was a ninja and an Uchiha so it didn't look that way but I'd gotten rather adept at reading 'The Uchiha Mask' – and, on top of that one, the 'Matriarch Mask' Mikoto used as Clan Head's wife – and could see it as clearly as if she'd been as expressive as Naruto. I was proud of her.
And, speaking of the little orange-devil…I'd not seen hide or hair of him.
How?!
In the manga/anime, they'd made it look like the little tyke was an explosive presence, a permanent fixture at the forefront of everyone's minds. But this was…eerie. I'd heard people grumble about him and I knew a lot of people liked to complain about 'that thing', but I'd not seen a little blonde with whiskers anywhere.
Maybe it had just seemed that way because he was the protagonist? Either way I was getting concerned…At first, I'd just waved it of as living in the largest Hidden Village and not really getting out too much.
But then, the longer I spent in Ichiraku, I'd felt his absence like a great, fuck-off arrow was flashing next to me at the counter, screaming 'HE'S NOT HERE'. And now, well into my first year as my own stall-owner, I was slowly feeling the creeping fingers of dread curl around my stomach.
Where was Naruto?
…
When Tou-san he promised he'd be better…he really meant it.
He'd been home for dinner every night this week, as he was now most days, and it felt surreal. I'd never had dinner with dad so often since I was a child, kaa-san and I cooking dinner for all of us until dad came in.
It made me both sad and happy, that those days seemed to return, if missing a member.
Then again, with how much Hitoshi decided to disappear nowadays, we were pretty much down to just the two of us.
At first, it had been a bit stilted, sitting around the table in silence. With only the click of chopsticks and our awkwardly loud swallowing, I'd almost wanted to excuse myself early. We'd had dinner before the change, of course, but…after what I'd said and the way he'd missed my petition…it felt a bit raw.
But dad was trying and that's what really mattered.
So, I'd sit through those silent days and, eventually, conversation picked up.
Dad would ask me about how the stall was going – a sure-fire way to get me rambling on like a loon – and then sit back, watching me go off, with a contented smile stretching tanned cheeks. It was at this time, these moments of peace, when I noticed how much his heavy work load had aged him.
He was thinner – not scarily so, but enough that I noticed how his shirt skimmed where it had once clung. Whilst dad had always been deeply olive-toned, now his hands and face were even more so, leaning closer to a warm coffee-tone which was undoubtedly from so much exposure to the elements. His eyes seemed wiser and it wasn't until I'd noticed his smooth cheeks that I realised I'd gotten used to the careless, 12 o' clock shadow he'd been sporting. And now, that I had time to sit and cherish his face, I realised just how much a was growing to look like him.
We had the same nose, pointed and straight, and my jaw was more like his than it had been mum's, even if Tou-san was more chiselled. Our hair was the same, even if dads was slightly sun-bleached on top. Besides the colour, our eyes were the same almond shape and I knew we had matching dimples if we grinned hard enough. I'd grown to look so much like him and not even realised until now.
Yes, He'd still been home before, but he'd always been half on a mission, at least mentally. It was like he couldn't bear to stay in the village any longer than he had to and I knew I'd been a fool to think he could ever recover so quickly from mum.
And that was one of the biggest changes in dad. He was still bubbly and outrageous in equal parts to his maturity and over-protectiveness. He'd always been a social butterfly (people so loud and bright always tended to be) but since he'd pulled back on his missions, Tou-san had taken to people watching more and more. It wasn't paranoia or anything but, rather, thoughtful and pensive. If I had to guess, I would say he was trying to memorise our lives, like he'd forgotten them once and never wanted to again.
There was nothing he looked at more than me, eyes dark and warm and sad. We'd be talking and I'd look up from my stir fry to see him staring desperately at my smile, my dimples, the way I crinkled my nose when a noodle splashed me. Sometimes, his eyes would close like he was memorising the noises, the sounds of our house around us and our voices as we talked and laughed, the sounds of my footsteps as I came up behind him.
It made my throat throb that he seemed to have missed this all so much. And so, because I could, I'd leave my chair and curl up next to him, tucking myself under his arm and breathing in the scent of him. The warmth and the familiar weight of his arm made me feel like a I was six all over again, purring together as mum made tea.
We'd both close our eyes then, and just…treasure it.
Of course, Tou-san couldn't just flip the switch. There were plenty of difficulties, too.
Dad had settled down to work in at the mission desk but I could sense a sort of restlessness in him. I knew he didn't want to leave me like he had before, ever again, and it was all for my sake, so I didn't mention it for now. I was thrilled that he was around more, working much more regular hours and there for the various birthdays and milestones.
I mean, Genma and everyone took loads of missions outside of the village but it was different for my dad. Not only did he have a child at home but, because of his tracking prowess, all his missions had been for a much longer term.
Guessing by patterns of appearance (I thought it was bad form for ninja that a little civilian Baker could suss this out just by paying attention), I'd say that Genma had around one mission a week and, most frequently, for around 6 days at a time, sometimes more and sometimes less. (It wasn't actually that regular, but this was the kind of vibe/amount I guessed over the years I'd known him.) But Genma was in ANBU and I knew his pattern of work would be considered irregular.
In comparison, my dad had been taking one a month, with most being at least 2 weeks long, sometimes the entire 4. It sounded like a massive amount of missions were tailored for his skill-set but, when you thought about it, Konohagakure ninja worked for the entirety of Fire country and internationally. Dad could be tracking missing nin, bandits or kidnappers or anything! I wasn't sure, he obviously couldn't tell me, but I knew that he'd very rarely been in want of a job. But, even for a regular shinobi, I knew dad had been taking more missions than most.
Whether that was because he missed mum or loved being out there, I couldn't tell.
Either way, after all, it had been taking him away from me.
And now he was home.
Maybe, when I was older, he'd take it back up again but, like with extreme or professional sport before, ninjas were replaced very quickly by the next generation. Whilst famous or extremely specialised shinobi could hold onto their importance for decades, like the Sannin or Sandaime, most of the regular ninja were retired by their 40's or 50's, either willingly or because they're bodies were no longer suitable for active service. By the time I'd be 18, Dad would be hitting his mid 40's; still pretty young for a ninja but he'd probably see a sharp dip in the long-term missions.
By then, I had a feeling there would be better trackers out there.
Dad was fantastic, and he and Hitoshi had a better mission record for long-range tracking than most Inuzuka, but he was only Chuunin level and I knew there would be some real powerhouses emerging in the next few years. So, maybe he'd try and get back out there when I was older, but I wasn't sure he would be able to, at least not the level he'd been before.
Hitoshi had also taken to disappearing for a few days on end, never answering me when I asked what he was doing. When he started coming back with slashes in his fur and blood in his jaws, I glared at him as I dragged him to the hospital, wondering if he'd taken to exploring the Forest of Death in his boredom.
Stupid feline was probably trying to assert himself as Top Cat over those massive, fuck-off Tigers.
As for me?
In between convincing Ino to leave up on tormenting Shika too badly, making sure Shikamaru at least walked somewhere every day, and cooing over my adoring customer Chouji, not to mention fretting over Tou-san and the Uchiha-
All on top of my first year in business.
I was so going to go grey early.
I mean, sure I'd not lived long enough before to get that far, so surely that would be cause for celebration and, just before I'd died, grey/silver hair was a massive fashion trend I'd been crushing on.
Didn't mean I wanted to do it!
Nekki's had taken off like a shot and had yet to really slow down. I knew that business never ran smoothly (most of what I'd learnt had been lessons from watching my Dad before run his own business) so I couldn't help but find myself waiting for the other shoe to drop.
And I was still waiting when autumn rolled in.
A new term at the Academy had begun and I found that my busy hours had shifted into the afternoons, once school had let out. The kids seemed to think it was awesome that 'one of their own' was a real-life business owner.
This, strangely enough, made me more popular than I'd ever been in my life.
When I'd spent time with the other children, when we were all younger, I'd always ended up incredibly frustrated with them and they'd always think I had my head shoved up my arse.
Of course, they didn't use language like that – ahem, I wasn't that shit of an influence – but the sentiment seemed pretty spot on.
Now I had my own place, my eye-rolls and higher IQ just made me 'wicked' and 'so cool, senpai'.
I was pretty sure this was how Itachi felt.
Cheeky hint? It sucked balls.
The amount of academy brats who'd clamber into my stall was insane! Sure, business was booming and I cheerfully served every single brat like they were all Shikamaru, but I kind of felt like a spectacle to all the little baby ninja. Not to mention the fact that, as the entire school let out at the same time and they all made a bee-line for here, I ended up with a pack of brats all turning up at the once.
Of course, when he heard, Shisui just had to stop by and flex his 'muscles' (he was so scrawny, how the hell was he so formidable?) so the brats knew when to chill.
Unfortunately, like everything in my life, it worked the exact opposite.
The kids stared at the figure of Shunshin no Shisui, who was sat at my bar and absently twirling a kunai around his finger (blatantly ignoring my 'No Weapons' sign, the cheeky brat).
"Whoa~" They seemed to breathe as one.
"Shisui!" I growled, grabbing a basket of napkins just before it was knocked over. The idiot almost-14-year-old was surrounded in a bunch as academy kids, the oldest around 10 and the youngest at 7, as they all battled to grill him on life as a ninja. Asking him what rank he was and if he knew any cool jutsu-
Well, at least they didn't seem to care about the huge Uchiha symbol stamped between his shoulder blades.
"Sorry, Ki-chan!" He grinned sheepishly, his hands scrubbing the back of his head. Oh, how the mighty had fallen, I thought, amused despite myself as a little girl asked him where his jewellery was from.
"Okay, everyone!" I cried, glad that, aside from Shisui and the students, the stall was currently empty. Then, channelling a bit of Yoshino, "You all need to calm down. I'll have no rushing around under my roof, okay?!"
The shinobi kids just blinked at me.
"Who's ordering first?" I smiled, pleased at the silence, and flipped my spatula in the air before catching it with a flourish.
"…Senpai's kinda scary," Two tiny kunoichis-in-training whispered, stars in their eyes.
After that, the after-school kids were always asking when 'Shisui-senpai' was coming around. I knew I shouldn't have let him talk about his missions!
It wasn't all about me though, the past year had been pretty hectic for everyone else as well.
Then again, this was probably the pace my life was now moving at. How exhausting~
Despite the new tensions between the Uchiha because of what happened to Itachi, I felt like I was finally getting somewhere on that front. Mikoto was seen more and more around the village, either at Nekki's or shopping with Sora-oba and the others. Shisui had always been one of the most tolerated Uchiha because he was so genuinely nice but now, with a small following of Academy students, he was greeted much more warmly. The market owners near Nekki's seemed the most accepting, no doubt from watching all of us interact at my place. Whilst Itachi was still 'controversial', I felt hope stirring in my chest.
The other boys were growing up even more now, as well. I'd bumped into Iruka a few more times in recent months but I think he was ashamed of his behaviour when we'd met. Although I'd made it extremely clear on more than one occasion that I had forgiven him and all was forgotten, he still always looked vaguely embarrassed and red-faced around me.
Feeling guilty that he seemed so uncomfortable, I introduced him to Genma and the boys, resolving myself to 'reconnecting' with him when he'd graduated.
Maybe by then he'd give me a chance?
But then he looked so upset when our brief meetings ended, face burning and looking strangely frustrated. Urgh, Iruka! What did that boy want from me? He looked so embarrassed when I did talk to him and put-out when I didn't!
Izumo and Kotetsu, whilst happy to be introduced to the younger boy, were due for the next Chuunin exams. Despite that, they did promise to show Iruka some tips for kunai throwing (some weird ninja bonding experience, evidently) and that was that. The exams were being held in Hot Water and I wondered if they made it through their first time in canon. I couldn't really remember those more obscure details anymore.
But, for every moment I lost of my last life, I gained another memory in this one.
Ever since opening Nekki's, I'd seen Chouji far more than I had previously. Whilst I'd babysat smol Ino-Shika-Cho a lot, it tended to be focusing more Ino and Shikamaru, with Chouji kind of tagging along for the ride. This was mainly because I was essentially Ino's aneki and Yoshino had determined early on that, if anyone could elicit a reaction from her lazy son, it was me. (Excuse YOU, I was in no way obsessed with Nara!?)
Kaiya and Chouza had always trusted me with Chouji, never doubting for a second that I was a good sitter (cheaper and much more attentive that a genin team, considering I adored all three babies and was only paid in meals and favours) but I wasn't as close to the Akimichi as I was to the others. That had changed over recent years, not just because I was relying more on Kaiya for advice and I'd impressed the Clan with my creations, but also because I'd realised how stupid I'd been, too absorbed in the Yamanaka and Nara to try as hard with the third member of the alliance.
I mistake I would never make again, I'll tell ya!
Chouji was old enough now that he could wander a bit more by himself – tch, ninja, ridiculous – and I was flattered beyond belief that the little auburn-haired boy had made a bee-line for my stall.
It had just turned October when he first did it, a week after Shika and Ino had turned five and a fortnight before Shisui hit 14.
At five years old and almost to my waist, I'd grown used to seeing him wandering around with Shika, the two boys all but glued to the hip with the Nara's bottlebrush pony stuck up beside Chouji's orange mop. So, I was in no way prepared to look up from spinning pretzels to see a tuft of carrot hair peaking over the countertop, all by itself.
"Chouji?" I slowed my movements, leaning over to see the little boy shyly smile up at me. "What are you doing here, honey?"
Now, I knew that terms of endearment were pretty scarce around here, but I was raised European before so screw that. My best friend before had had the verbal tick of calling everyone 'My Lover', in the same way some people said 'Dude'. Yikes, the awkward misunderstandings we got ourselves into with that!
The young Akimichi Heir didn't answer right away, scuffing his sandals against the floor and peaking up at me.
"Kaa-san said I could come see you," he mumbled, smiling hopefully and I melted like butter in the pan.
I ended up sitting him on a stool by the bar, showing him how to twist Pretzels and using skewers to dip fruit into the different sauces when we got hungry. It was a pretty slow day, a Thursday afternoon when people were just trying to get their work done before Friday and the weekend. That morning had been rammed, everyone cramming in for an extra-special late-week breakfast, and I found the quieter time with Chouji a relief. Towards 3pm, the customers picked up again and I was thankful that Chouji was such a good kid; he simply sat in his chair, smiling and waving at the various customers who coo-ed at the picture the pair of us made.
If it had been any other kid, I would never have let them behind the counter. Shika would've contaminated the surfaces by falling asleep on them (waving that damned ponytail everywhere) and I didn't think Ino could behave long enough – whether my attention was on the customers or cooking –, just to give two examples. Chouji I'd plonked beside the ice-cream machine, with nothing in reach put a plate of Churros with banana slices and a child-friendly cup of juice. I'd learnt to keep things for kids on hand (the kids came 'round so much, it made sense to have things stocked – more than one mother had been thankful I kept a stash of baby wipes!).
Some mothers had even been directed in here from the Market Place! Comments like 'Kiharu in Nekki's has lots of little kids visiting- ask her if she has any such and such!"
So, ever since that day in October, I'd been blessed with the company of the little Akimichi every week or so.
By now, I had quite the little rotation of visits from my various loved ones.
It was, really, very adorable.
And, speaking of blessings…
When Ensui turned 20, I rocked up to his apartment (he'd moved out when he was 19; the whole thing had been such a hush hush operation – I was pretty sure this was out of fear of Yoshino, hilariously – I'd barely been aware it had happened before he was all moved in. As much knowledge as I had, house shopping I did not know about. And from before, my taste had been skewed from Student accommodation so I was not the person to talk to. And why would he ask a pre-teen anyway?).
Anyway, I went to Ensui's apartment for his birthday (a Sunday, so I was free), strolling in like I owned the place (his fault for making the oversight of giving Shisui and I keys, foolish Nara) and announcing to the Chuunin curled up in bed-
"I'm here! Happy Birthday, you're welcome!"
Ensui groggily turned over and squinted at me, deeply unimpressed. Despite his sleepy act, I had little doubt he'd known who was coming in by the time I reached for the front-door handle.
"And that's your gift, hmmm?" He stretched lazily, duvet falling off the bed and baring his naked chest, "Just being here?" I rolled my eyes, dumping my bag on the floor and slumping onto the mattress beside him, unphased by the skin on show. I'd seen much more before.
"Can I get a refund?"
"Shush, you'll regret saying that in a moment." I poked his ribs, ignoring the thin, white kunai scars that littered his torso.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, 'Oh', I was going to suggest a Spa day, but if you'd rather I leave-"
A hand on my arm stopped me from getting up, from where I'd startled to shuffle off the bed.
"Don't be so damn troublesome, what did you have planned, then?"
Beaming, I flung my bag onto the bed and upended it with little ceremony. Out poured some mud-masks I'd picked up from the Onsen (you could get them at reception, the same ones they used if you asked for a mud treatment in the annexed Spa), the rest of the hair mask left over from my last sleepover with Hana, and a bunch of shitty food.
"Ta-dah!"
Turning back to Ensui, I poked his cheek with a finger, "and whilst I'm thinking about skincare, you should take off your makeup every night." Wagging the same finger in his face, I gestured to where his green eyeliner was smudged around his lids, "I don't care how sleepy you are; You're gonna get an infection if you're not careful-!"
As I continued my rant, only gathering more steam as the older boy lay there like a dead fish, Ensui let out a low groan, rolling over. It was a real shame he forgot that I'd shoved him aside when I lay down next to him.
I grinned when his face hit the floor with a muted 'thump'.
…..
When Inoichi-oji turned 30 in January, not only did Tou-san look like he wanted to cry when he remembered that he was even older than his best friend ('Kiharu! I don't look like an old man, right?' '…no?' '…you hesitated-') but Ino started calling him 'oji-san'.
The look of conflicted delight that warred across his face was a real treat. 'Was that aging or just adorable?'
Inoichi-oji seemed to think it was cute, slapping Tou-san on the back whilst he beamed down at his daughter. "Yes, Ino-chan! Seiichi is your oji-san. Don't forget it~"
The winter itself had been dull and grey and long and grey. Whilst my waffle and warm brownie sales were on the up, I definitely noticed a drop in my sales. Whilst the first few quiet days had got me twitching, worried that something was happening and I'd been oblivious, I soon realised that was the issue.
Nothing was happening.
People, perhaps reflecting the miserable weather, were staying in and not really going out of their way for anything. The Market Street was emptier as the weeks passed, the days slipping past with all the speed of dripping cement and about as interesting. I had my faithful regulars of course, family members and friends and some faces that had gradually grown more and more familiar.
But it didn't make me any less nervous.
I'd had a slow drop I profits and, even if I had my inheritance to ensure relative financial security, I naturally stressed the fuck out.
It wasn't until the academy kids went back to school, for their final term in January, that my sales rose once more. They'd stopped dropping a few weeks into December, staying at a gentle trickle of people instead of the strong stream I was used to, but I still breathed a massive sigh of relief anyway.
I never realised how much I depended on the kids before then.
Over December they'd been on break and, whilst they obviously hadn't left the village, most of them had no reason to walk through the Market Place if it wasn't to/from the Academy.
So, when spring came and Nekki's was booming once more, I told myself I'd have to do something the next year. A new dessert or maybe a 'student discount' or whatever! Either way, I couldn't just sit and wait for people to come to me. I had to go out and draw them in!
In the first week of March, I celebrated Nekki's first anniversary, which was a fortnight before I turned 12.
The day itself was a repetition of the year previous; booming crowd, all my loved ones showered with freebies (aside from nee-chan, of course, hehe) and an incredible atmosphere.
What made it so special was what I was wearing!
For an early birthday present, Yuri-oba had made me a uniform~
Working with the navy/scarlet/white theme I'd chosen for the stall, I thought it looked brilliant.
It was functional and yet beautiful; a navy yukata with a red trim along all the edges, the sleeves falling to my elbows (no need to roll them up! Yay!) and the hem falling to just below my knees. The material itself was patterned with little white flowers along the inside edge of the red and the look was completed with a white apron with the kitten/rose logo faithfully embroidered on the apron's skirt. I wore it with my hair in a high ponytail (and, given to me by Ayame, a scarlet bandana) and matching red shoes.
Yuri-oba herself sewed it entirely by hand, which is why it wasn't completed until well into my first year of business. Wanting to make an appropriate splash, forever a minx, the seamstress then waited until my first anniversary to give it to me. Which just happened to be just before my birthday.
I adored it.
And it made me feel proper, like a respectable young business owner. No more casual clothes, it was time to up the ante!
So, on Nekki's first birthday, I was swooping around the stall dressed to match the decor!
Genma had wolf-whistled when he'd seen me, giving me a wink and a slow clap, and I laughed in return, teasingly twirling for him. I knew we were only having a bit of banter (payback for two months ago, when I'd innocently asked Genma – in earshot of some kunoichi, completely by accident, of course – why he was trying to look down some woman's top, when he wasn't, ha ha!) as he told me I looked 'nice, kiddo' later. Naturally, that didn't stop Shisui from looking like he wanted to shove nee-chan's senbon down his throat. He was so cute when he got all puffed up~
Snickering at how silly everyone could be, I cheered my best friend up by loudly exclaiming that Genma had a good eye for beauty, winking outrageously at Raidou.
Shisui started snickering when the two choked on their Churros. Ahh, it felt like only yesterday I'd first tried to get them to hold hands!
The years felt like they were flying past and I didn't know where they'd gone, in all honesty. Some things, like boobs and alcohol, I couldn't wait to grow up for. Other things, I'd not missed so much-
Two weeks later my birthday party was in full swing, a chaotic congregation of parents and kiddies and a buffet table that was fairly groaning under the weight of my creations. Izumo and Kotetsu looked to be having a competition as to how much they could eat but, thankfully, they'd yet to decimate my birthday cake.
The 'cake' in question was actually a tower of macaroons (something I'd 'created' just two days previous and had yet to 'release to the public'), made in flavours ranging from caramel to matcha to strawberries and cream. The adults seemed to like the idea, picking off a single bite-sized treat with no mess, and it was definitely easier for the kids. And the adults who'd have to clean their sticky fingers and faces.
Well, unless your name was 'Ino' and you liked to cause trouble.
Watching Sora-oba wrestling a wet-wipe towards Ino's face, I sent dad a smug look. The man, looking on with a horrified-but-absorbed expression (like a car crash you can't take your eyes off – Hey, I'd died in one! I could joke about that all I wanted!) as Ino started screaming, met my eyes across the room.
Aren't you glad that I was so clever?
I'd never seen him look so grateful, struck by the realisation of what he could have had to deal with. Tch, I'd definitely spoiled my parents.
But anyway, the party was going really well, Shisui was looking a bit sick from how much he'd eaten and I was on my 15th macaroon, when Hitoshi's head swung in my direction.
His nostrils flared and he padded over, looking at me like I was an incompetent slug. Oh wait! His face was just stuck like that~
"Cub," he rolled his eyes (I still didn't know how he could do that, being a fricking cat and all), "Get a plaster on it."
I blinked down at him, uncomprehending.
"Er, what?" I shared a confused look with Shisui, glancing around the kitchen (empty, except for the three of us, because most people didn't camp out with the food. We weren't most people. We were pigs.) for a clue as to what the fuck he was taking about. "Have you been drinking from nee-chan's cup again?" I'd not failed to notice Genma spiking his own drink. Tch, I'd been a student- I could sense alcohol a mile off!
I'd had to forcibly remind myself that 12 was too young to go on a bender when I realised.
Hitoshi sent me an unimpressed look, 'Oh you're so funny – not!', but, when he took another breath to undoubtedly berate me, he froze before his eyes dropped once more to my torso.
"Cub, you're bleeding even more now," He leaned forward, sniffing at my tummy and my eyes blew wide as Shisui dropped his plate.
"You're bleeding?!"
Oh my fucking god-
"GET OFF! Get off! Stupid cat!" I shoved the panther's massive head back from where he was snuffling around my hips-
Shisui grabbed my shoulders, dark eyes sketching all over my figure like he was cataloguing possible wounds.
"Are you injured? Are you sick?" He glanced around the kitchen before grabbing a tea towel and snapping at Hitoshi to show him where the bleeding was.
Naturally, the shouting hadn't gone unnoticed.
Dad came through the door, Genma and Inoichi-oji hot on his heels, to see two massive idiots yelling at each other (Shisui was yelling, Hitoshi was growling) about first aid as I backed myself into a corner, frantically hissing for them to please please shut up-
"What the hell is going on here?" Tou-san frowned fiercely, every inch of him in full-on 'Papa Mode', "Kiharu, you're bleeding?"
And that was the last straw.
"OBA-SAN!" I roared, marching through the crowd of annoying and stupid males and making a beeline for Sora, who was happily relaxing on one of the sofas, cup of tea in hand and looking in the direction of the Kitchen with an amused look on her face. I couldn't believe none of them had clicked with what was happening. They were all idiots.
"Yes, Ki-chan?" she laughed.
"Please," I whined, speaking in a rush, "just get them off my back for 10 minutes and I'll watch Ino on Saturday night so you can go to that new restaurant!" Sora-oba narrowed her eyes, pulling herself up and leaned closer.
"What's wrong Ki-chan?" She glanced over to where the men were coming out of the kitchen, first -aid box now clasped in her husband's arms as they all headed over to us. "I thought they were just teasing? What's happened?"
"Will you, though?" I shifted to push her closer to Inoichi, unapologetically using her for a meatsheild as I inched towards the stairs, "Please?!"
When she nodded, still looking confused and concerned, I dashed up the stairs like the hounds of hell were chasing me. Or, rather, Shisui and Hitoshi.
I sprinted into my room, slamming the door behind me and locking it with a firm 'click'.
Holy shit, I can't believe that just happened!
Sliding down the door, I gave myself 5 minutes to freak out. That was on a new level of humiliating and I prayed Sora-oba would manage to keep them from coming up to find me. Well, as soon as they told her what was happening, she'd definitely figure it out.
If I hadn't already been through this shit, we could've had a catastrophe on our hands, as in; 'Kiharu, are you bleeding?' 'Waaa, I'm bleeding?' 'Let's get the first aid kit!'.
Fuck. No.
If I'd been a boy before, my first period would probably have scarred me for life.
As it was, my 5 minutes lamenting over such public embarrassment were over and I pulled myself up, grabbing some things and slowly unlocking the door, popping my head around the corner to make sure no one had slipped through Sora-oba's net.
Seeing the coast was clear, I made a mad dash for the bathroom – just in case.
I'd kept hold of Kaa-san's toiletries like her face wipes, expensive moisturisers etc. and I praised my foresight when, rummaging in the medicine cabinet, I found pads.
Thankfully, despite the panic sparked downstairs, I hadn't made a massive mess of myself. Jeeze, Hitoshi! I got that you could track a patch of blood a mile off, but did you really have to make it sound like I was haemorrhaging?
When I'd got myself sorted, I slunk back downstairs to find Yoshino stood over my little group of would-be first-aiders with a frightening expression on her face. Praise Kami-sama, no wonder no one had bothered me! I didn't doubt that she was reminding them that, aside from Shisui, they were all fully grown and supposed to be adults. Her victims were all sat around the Livingroom looking properly shamefaced and I begged Jashin-sama that we could all pretend the last 15 minutes didn't exist. Pausing on the stairs for a second to listen to the sounds coming from the kitchen, I breathed sigh of relief that everyone else had continued like normal, laughing and talking and 'oblivious' to my embarrassment.
When I came 'round the corner, all of us had matching red faces. Shisui and Tou-san looked especially mortified, not able to even meet my eyes (not that I'd be looking anywhere but at my own feet for a while longer). Genma looked like he'd rather be trussed-up like a turkey in Kumo and Inoichi-oji had a glazed look in his eye, undoubtedly freaking out over when he'd have to go through this again with Ino.
It was silent for a moment before I coughed awkwardly.
"…Let's just pretendthisneverhappened,okay?"
Four heads were nodding furiously before I'd even finished and we got out of there like the room was on fire.
…...…
When the weather started heating up again, I cut down on the pretzels and puddings and ramped up the ice cream and 'fridge' desserts.
All for a very good reason, of course.
My cousin's Japanese boyfriend before had described the market festivals that went down quite often, events where traders and merchants could show off their wares. I presumed it was a bit like the Festival after Minato's inauguration. And actually, I was right because that festival had been the Market Festival.
Festivals were a bit different here.
I knew there was one on the anniversary of Kyuubi every year but I'd never been; our family, along with Inoichi, Sora and Ino, preferred to stay in and have a very small party, mainly remembering the lives lost that night. It wasn't a tragic event (it almost felt like it, the first few years) but it was very chill. We had dinner, taking it in turns to host it at our two houses, and then talked for the rest of the evening. Laughing, telling stories…it felt like family. And it made the passage of time feel even more real; every year, Ino was bigger and our games and stories were always changing. However, it always made me sad – guilty, even though it wasn't my fault – that, even though Tou-san asked every year, Natsuko-oba and Inokumo-oji never came. I'd barely even seen them recently. It wasn't hard to lose contact with people in a village this large, the largest, but I knew that Noko's mother rarely left their home and Inokumo had been throwing himself into long term missions.
It made me so sad.
But…anyway, with the Kyuubi Festival, I couldn't really bring myself to want to go; it just made me think of all the hatred and blame placed on poor Naruto.
And as for Market festivals? They held them every five years.
I wasn't sure if it was just something that was decided because Konoha was a Hidden Village (security reasons...?) or because of something else, maybe to do with the lack of trust between countries. Maybe it was because it took so much longer to travel around here, no cars or trucks or whatever? I didn't know, people seemed confused when I questioned it. I mean, they'd never known it any different, so I guess my questions were weird and out-of-the-blue.
But, for whatever reason, this was going to be my first Market Festival. Or, at least, my first as a business owner myself.
My…debut…if you will.
And I wanted to go in with a bang!
I wracked my brains for days, thinking what I could make. I'd already exhausted all the recipes I did know and I was now resorting to foodie trends I remembered from social media. Remembering how they looked and then, through pure trial and error, trying to recreate them.
Which is how I got here.
I should probably just say 'fuck it' and announce Ensui as my personal craftsman, at this point.
"What are you on about, Kiharu? Cold? Why the hell do you want the pan cold?"
Running my hands through my hair, I groaned up at the ceiling in frustration, tugging on my ponytail.
"It just needs to be, okay? It won't work otherwise."
The older body looked just as frustrated as I felt and wanted to smack him for asking so many confounded questions!
"But it's a pan?"
We'd been hashing out this new idea for a good hour now (not too long but normally Ensui and I shared brainwaves so this was weird) and I was getting a bit skittish with the amount of probing questions the Nara was asking. He tended to trust my judgement implicitly but, occasionally, he liked to pick my brains; he really didn't get where all these new ideas could come from. How I could have thought this shit up? And I understood, I really did. I mean, I technically didn't. This stuff wasn't mine.
And sometimes he seemed to pick up on that, on some level. He didn't think I'd stolen it or anything but…he seemed to understand that my mind worked differently to everyone else's.
I mean, this world used to only really have 'prodigies' of the ninja arts.
"Fine! Fine! I'll get it sorted, it'll be cold! You don't have to explain yourself-" Ensui flung his hands up in the air, "Happy?"
Folding my arms, I nodded. "Very."
Despite my ice cream maker (which I temporarily moved back to our house), I was determined to go down this route instead. Ensui had made it sound like something really out there, when it really wasn't, but I figured his curiosity must build up in waves that occasionally overflowed. Regardless, I wanted to try this. And rolled ice-cream was a massive hit.
The idea that you could pick your favourite dessert and have it made into your cold and creamy treat, right in front of you, was really popular! Like with my pretzel-making, kids would drag their parents over to watch and then beg to try one.
Ah, gotta love the kids.
My pilot run with the idea went down a treat (wink, wink- okay, I'll stop), so I figured the Festival next week, the first week of June, would be a super good time to incorporate it properly.
And I was right.
The weather proved to be swelteringly hot, so much so I could feel sweat running down my back and dampening my bandana. It was actually rather disgusting; if I'd been swimming with Hana in the Naka or sunbathing with Sora-oba, then it would be amazing.
Stood behind a stall, working hard and trying to keep the place hygienic with all the bugs?
Not fun.
Whilst the decorative tapestry/bunting blocked out the worse of the blinding sunlight, the crush of the crowd made the day all the hotter. I was wearing my uniform and deeply regretting it because I'm a massive idiot.
Navy blue? I must've been suicidal.
The Festival was incredible though, the surrounding decorations burning all the shades of the sun under the cloudless sky. Everyone had set up on the outsides of their shops, – if they had them – so that no one was hidden behind another and all the other stalls were pop up ones that filled the streets to bursting.
Merchants had come streaming into the village and all the food stalls made the very air dance with spices. I was transported back to the day Minato became Hokage.
It felt like yesterday, as I looked around from behind my own counter, as much as a life time ago.
There were so many different stalls! Whilst the food section was extensive, I'd seen Yoshino haggling so furiously with the silk merchants over their prices per yard that she drew over five different stands into the argument (Ha-ha! Classic). Next door, the jewellery stands twinkled in the sunshine.
And, most excitingly?
Sora-oba was selling flowers!
I wasn't sure what had prompted the Yamanaka Flower shop in canon but, a month or so ago, Inoichi-oji and Sora-oba had announced that they wanted to start a business in their free time, inspired by the wonderful work I'd done with Nekki's. I'd squealed like the 12-year-old I was, jumping up and down with Ino (she didn't really get what was happening but was happy to be swung around all the same).
The last month was spent using Inoichi's international contacts (mainly in places like Tea and Suna) to get various shipments organised in time for the Market Festival. They already owned a few properties outside of the Compound (most donated by deceased Yamanaka that had been willed back to the Clan for use at their disposal) that the rest of the Clan had encouraged them to use when they were ready to open the official shop.
Now, stood behind a pop-up stall directly opposite my own, I beamed and waved at my Aunt she gleefully organised the masses of foliage.
Those, I tell ya, were some impressive contacts that Inoichi-oji had.
Great bushes of flowers had arrived two weeks previous, ready for planting on the Compound. And now, great bunches of them gathered like foam on a bubble bath around my Aunt's figure.
"I think…your Kaa-san's gone a bit overboard, imouto," I ripped my eyes off the veritable cloud of flowers, turning to look at Ino, who was resting on my popped hip.
"I love it!" Ino claimed loyally and I rolled my eyes. Anything outrageously OTT always had the Heiress's stamp of approval, it seemed.
"Go on and find the boys, Ino," I lowered her back to the ground, "I've got to set up as well, okay?" ignoring her disappointed glower, I pressed a brief kiss to her forehead before turning to tap my cheek, pouting until Ino smacked a messy kiss there in return. "Now, off you go," and she was off like a shot, heading like a heat-seeking missile to where I could see a tiny bottlebrush ponytail slumped under a tree beside ginger-hair.
"Sorry about that!" I cried turning to my first customer, smiling at the 'KAWAII' expression plastered on her teenage face. "What combination would you like?"
Despite our disagreement, Ensui had come through for me yet again and I had a frozen pan set up, the cord trailing back into Nekki's.
I spent the morning pouring the ice-cream mixture onto the slab, adding the various flavourings – anything from simple fresh fruit to chocolate/syrups to chunks of my other desserts – and then slicing and mixing them together as they gradually froze. Once they had formed a thin layer over the tray, I took my spatula and carefully rolled them up into individual curls, popping them inside little cardboard pots with 'Nekki's' and the logo stamped on the side.
In other news, Ino had behaved for weeks after a particularly bad tantrum had her helping me make them for 4 days straight.
By the time the sun was directly overhead and the crowds were at their thickest, I think I appreciated the ice-cream just as much as my over-heating customers.
Imagine slaving over a roasting hot waffle or crepe pan? At least I could get a nice chill from the ice-cream tray!
The crowds were vast and unrelenting, even more overwhelming that my opening day last year. But I'd gradually become more accustomed to the rush and knew that, so long as I kept a cool head and did some serious crowd control, I'd be fine. So, I didn't panic, even as the crowd grew and grew.
But the heat was unrelenting and so was the crowd and by 2pm I was drained. I'd had an absolutely fantastic day already, my cheeks were screaming from the wide, delighted grin I'd been sporting for hours and I was buzzing at how popular my stall was – there'd barely been a dip in sales all day!
But I was tired and hungry-
And then Mikoto appeared at my elbow like angel.
The crowds seemed surprised, seeing the Uchiha Matriarch – all kitted out in a beautiful yukata – start helping me out like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And for us? It was.
Mikoto had been dropping around Nekki's ever since it had opened, always willing to spend time with me, help me go shopping or just popping in for a chat and a cup of tea across the counter. But, she'd slowly started coming more and more in the recent months, helping serve behind the counter or to simply get Sasuke out of the house.
After three weeks…I, kinda, started showing her how to make stuff.
So, when she smiled and reached for the two spatulas, telling me to go and grab a cold drink, I handed them over without a moment's thought. After a second, I reached to undo my apron before moving to tie it around Mikoto instead. Hey, my yukata was gross already! The least I could do was protect Mikoto's beautiful outfit!
The crowd murmured, some shocked and others smiling, as the Lady Uchiha warmly served them and basically smashed their preconceptions to smithereens.
If my eyes watered a bit, I could easily claim it was from the glaring sunlight.
Gazing over the crowd, I pinpointed a tall, dark head and raised my arm to wave at Fugaku, a slightly-smiling Itachi at his shoulder with an excited Sasuke grasping his brother's hand.
His expression was unreadable as he stared back, but I thought I caught a slight softening of his eyes when they moved to rest on his wife.
When he looked back to me, the nod he gave was barely more than a jerk of his chin.
Ay-Okay, then. Phew.
The rest of the day passed quickly and Mikoto never let up, acting kindly to every single person who came to the stall. Even when we had people complaining about the wait and the slow service (each order was made from scratch, duhh), Mikoto and I were able to smooth the situations over with our logic and friendly smiles. Around three o' clock, the smol Ino-Shika-Cho trio had trotted over for free ice-cream (Banoffee for Ino, matcha waffle-chunks for Shika and Chocolate Torte for Chouji) and the bystanders were enchanted when I gathered the three precious babies into a little group hug of love.
Score~
When the sun had begun to set, the crowds having filtered away as evening drew in, the Lady Uchiha was still beside me, helping me close up shop (we waved off the Yamanaka's as they had plenty of their own tidying to do) and then walking me back to the house.
As she squeezed my hands goodbye and gave me one last smile, I turned to watch her leave.
And a seed was planted in my mind.
…
After the Market Festival, I took some time off to chill.
Not a lot, that would be counterproductive after my boom in sales since the Festival (YAS), but a couple of individual 'holidays' to enjoy the amazing weather.
The day Kiba turned 5 (and a tiny Akamaru turned 1 – so fucking cuteeeee), Hana and I took them down to the Naka to play. We went to those pebbly shallows (whenever I mention the Naka, that's generally where I meant) and tried to stay out of the line of fire when Kiba, predictably, went berserk.
And you wonder why I rarely spent time with the boy?
Akamaru was worth it though.
We weren't so stupid as to leave a toddler in the water by himself, staying close enough that we'd be there in an instant if things went tits up, but we took the chance to get chatting.
In the heat of the moment, and struck by the realisation that Hana could get shafted even worse than I had, I told her what happened on my birthday. It was humiliating but, for some reason, the thought struck me that I should warn Hana. For whenever she was old enough, of course.
I had little doubt that Tsume could handle everything flawlessly but…I'd not considered the embarrassing idea that Hitoshi would sense what was happening before I did. I'd struggled with one summon; Hana had three excitable puppies and Kiba as a demonic little brother.
So here we were, sunbathing by the Naka, and the Inuzuka Heiress was laughing her ass off at my misfortune. She was so loud that Kiba looked interested!
Rolling my eyes, considering I wanted to tell her for her benefit, she quickly sobered when I pointed out that she lived in a Compound where everyone had a heightened sense of smell. And sure, there were special techniques for kunoichi to mask the scent/stop their periods, but Hana wouldn't be able to anticipate her first period until it happened.
So, ha! Laugh it up, it'll be you soon enough, Hana!
We'd been there for a good few hours when it all went to hell.
It had gotten later than I realised, and it wasn't until Hana suggested we catch some fish for dinner that I remembered I was supposed to meet Tou-san. Not wanting to end the day so quickly, especially as Hana had gotten her mother's permission to keep Kiba out later (ninja, I tell ya), I decided that it would be easiest to summon Hitoshi. Dad would be on patrol until late by now, so Hitoshi would be the only way to reach him. Leave it to the panther to let him know what had happened – and apologise.
But, instead of getting the usual sassy response before the smoke had even cleared-
"Hitoshi," I whispered in horror. "…What the fuck-"
The normally sleek and graceful panther was a mess, breathing heavily with his ink fur soaked in blood. I'd seen him look rough before but this was completely different and I didn't even know where to start…! His skin was battered, singed in places and the foam on his jaws was tinted red. Whether it was his or not, I couldn't tell. Horrified, I placed my palm on his face, only to jerk it back when he let out a low whine.
My palm glistened red, fingers dirty from soot. I'd never heard Hitoshi make a noise like that.
With a squeak, Hana grabbed her brother into her arms, turning his head away from the violent scene. The poor tyke looked so terrified he didn't even protest.
"Hana," I whispered. "Get Kiba and Akamaru out of here…get your mum…and don't tell anyone else, except if you see my uncle or dad." I turned to look at her and nodded back towards the village, "I'll try and get him to cover; get Kuromaru to track us."
She nodded, staggering back a few steps as her eyes flickered over our slumped forms, before turning and sprinting off, Kiba and Akamaru tucked to her chest. Watching as she disappeared between the trees, I swallowed, feeling vaguely guilty for pulling her into this. For involving Kiba and Akamaru in this.
Whatever 'this' was.
Turning back to my summon, I wrapped my arms around his thick neck, pulling it off the ground and into my lap.
His eyes finally opened, pupils dilated like a slash of ink, as the cat let out a choked growl in pain.
"Sorry, sorry," I chanted, trying to slip an arm under his shoulders. Maybe if I could leverage him up? "Please, 'Toshi," I whimpered, eyes burning as I tried not to cry, casting hasty glances around the darkening area. The afternoon was fading fast and the last thing I wanted was to be stuck on the riverside, with a seriously injured friend, as night fell.
"Please, we have to get to cover- please, try-" I tugged on his ribcage, desperate to try and get him up again, but he only growled deep in his throat and lay there, unmoving.
"Toshi, I'm begging you-"
The forest around us was so, so quiet as I breathed in the scent of burned fur. I'd been wrong, thinking Hitoshi was challenging the animals in the Forest of Death, looking for a fight in the wilds around the village.
Looking at the man-made wounds on his body, he hadn't been fighting something but someone.
"-someone did this to you, 'Toshi…and I just interrupted them before they could finish the job."
….
A/N- Question: How do you write 16 months into 10k words? Fuelled by your last Easter egg and when you're meant to be packing. Well, guys, all I can say is...this is a fucking rollercoaster. I can't even read fanfic right now as it reminds me of this and I want to know what happens – it's my fucking story...! lol cry.
Anyway! Thanks for the fantastic support!
Hope you all like, much love 3
P.S- If any of you didn't like the first period bit then answer this? If I can't write about a natural bodily process that all young girls experience, how can I in 'good' conscience post lemon later?