Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Naruto or its world. I don't own any media or pop culture referred to or mentioned in the story.
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Present: The Next Day - Konoha Hospital
Now she stood here, not with the Hokage, but with a tall man in flowing, light-colored clothes and long brown hair. His white eyes made Nami curious when she first saw him an hour ago.
The man was a shinobi, the Konoha headband gleaming on his arm. "Hello again, young one." He said, voice soft.
Nami stared up at him, his eyes capturing her attention.
The Hyuuga, Tamaki, internally sighed. Another child afraid of their unfamiliar eyes.
"It's like his eyes are the moon." She said in Uzek, unthinkingly in wonder. Realizing that slipped out, she covered her mouth with her hands to stop anything else from blurting out.
Hiruzen chuckled and replied in Common. "His clan is called the Hyuuga." The Hokage's words to the girl drew both her and her shinobi escort's attention. "Their special eyes are a major part of their fighting prowess. They make for powerful allies and some of the best taijutsu-that's fighting," Nami nodded, eyes wide as she looked back at the Hyuuga. "And yes," Hiruzen chuckled. "Their eyes do resemble the moon."
Tamaki did his best to fight down the blush, both from Lord Hokage's glowing words of his clan and the apparent childish comparison to the moon. "Thank you Lord Third." He bowed to his leader.
Nami looked from one man to the other then bowed to the Man in the White Hat. If Moonbeam did it, then she would too.
Tamaki glanced at the little girl-how cute, was she mimicking him? "I'll take it from here, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen nodded, resting his hand on Tsunami's fluffy hair once more. Looking from beneath curly bangs, her silver eyes caught his gaze. "Never lose this, alright?" He tapped his chest, mirroring where her necklace sat.
She held the swirl charm in one hand, nodding. "Mmm…"
With that, the man left Tamaki and his charge, his unseen guards leaving with him.
Tamaki looked down at the little girl beside him. She raised her eyes to him, suddenly looking nervous. He was used to attention-grabbing eyes, and hers were no different. Her silver eyes reflected her emotions right on the surface.
"Come, I will take you home, little one." Tamaki kept his voice at a lower tone, gesturing forward with his free hand. He wouldn't offer his hand to hold hers (despite his urge to parent her around—goodness, the child was small), as that might confuse or alarm her.
Tsunami took a deep breath and nodded, heading down the path to this… home.
If only she knew what horrid days lied ahead, maybe Nami would've grabbed the kind Hyuuga's hand. It would be a long time till she felt the warmth of a kind stranger again.
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Konoha Orphanage - Nami's First Day (March)
When they first got to this new building, Nami wasn't sure how to feel.
Unlike the hum and buzz of the hospital, this place seemed… stuck, like murky water in a damned stream, unable to flow and clear the muck.
Nami looked up as the new person greeted her with a bright smile and high-pitched, "Welcome to your new home!"
Nami was immediately on edge from the false tone. She stepped back, unconsciously holding her escort's pants.
Tamaki glanced down, internally agreeing with the girl's assessment of the caretaker before them. The middle aged woman, Misoka, was obviously putting on an exaggerated display. Granted, most people who work with children emote in an exaggerated manner. Even so, Miss Misoka still set Tamaki on edge.
She was only a civilian caretaker, her chakra levels more than confirmed it, but the Hyuuga understood why his temporary charge was weary.
He placed a hand on the girl's curly head, resting it there.
She looked up, internally relieved then looked at the woman. If this man wasn't afraid of her, maybe she would be nice? Nami stepped from his side, nodding at the woman.
She had been frowning from Nami's initial shyness, but smiled, delighted when the girl opened up. "Good! You can come with me and they can finish their business."
Nami hesitated again. Tamaki gave a polite request to share some parting words with her.
The caretaker, obviously delighted at being spoken to by someone of, "the prestigious Hyuuga family! Take all the time you need." She flounced away with a hum. Tamaki cringed. His Clan wasn't a mere family.
When the woman stepped away a polite distance, but still in earshot Tamaki noticed with growing distaste, he turned to the little girl he first met tattered and burned at the border almost 1 month ago.
She turned to him, hesitation shining in her bright silver eyes. He remembered how small she seemed before, laying in his team member's arms as they raced to medical attention. Now, she was vibrant. Wary, but more open than before. And still small and adorable.
Kneeling, Tamaki set a hand on her shoulder. "Stay strong little one." At eye level, he met her gaze head on. Just like he thought earlier, she didn't flinch or look afraid of his eyes. She just kept growing on him. That's why he was going to break his norm for this mysterious child. "Control your fear so you don't lose control like that day in the hallway." He pointed to her hands where the strange chakra blasted that day in the Hospital Hallway.
Nami's eyes widened, realizing what he meant. She hadn't known he was there. "You…" Her mouth snapped shut, nervous he'd be mad at her.
Tamaki tapped the hand gripping her necklace, making her release it. He didn't understand what she just muttered, but he had an idea. "Whatever you do, don't use that chakra here. You may hurt yourself, or someone else." He glanced at the caretaker who was very blatantly listening in. He'd better finish this up before his irritation grew more.
"If you wait a little longer, you can grow stronger and learn to control it in the Academy." He knew with her being marked, "Child of Unknown Origin," and "Psychological Evaluation Needed," there was a chance she'd be rejected from the competitive classes. But for some reason, Tamaki believed he would see her again.
Nami stared at him for a few moments, processing his words. Tamaki coughed to cover his laugh—her eyes made it so easy to read her open book of emotions. He saw when it all clicked in her mind. She gave one sharp nod.
So cute.
Tamaki nodded back, standing and gesturing to Miss Misoka. Nami stepped up to the woman's side, glancing back at him only once before moving forward without a backward glance.
Tamaki nodded to the warden he gave her official files to. "We leave her in your care."
Warden Yakushi nodded, giving her old Anbu trainee a smile. "Thank you for bringing her safely."
Tamaki gave another respectful nod then disappeared in a shushin.
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A/N Thanks for reading my story!
