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.
Thank you, each of you, for following my story. Please enjoy this next chapter.
A/N Trigger warning: Bullying and harassment.
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All of the children looked up in surprise. Takuma jerked in his seat. He was supposed to be the lookout behind them. So the Warden surprised him too. The woman wasn't there moments before.
Warden Yakushi silently assessed the situation, making them all lean away from Tsumi. Said girl, backed up a few more steps, eyes darting between the new adult and the group of three.
Eiji tried to hide his kunai, cursing internally. Takuma resumed his normal neutral expression. Kiori put on her usual good girl demeanor. "W-What do you mean?"
"It seems you all are done eating." Warden Yakushi nodded to the exit. "Since you all are so energetic, you can assist with the clean up."
Kiori's mask slipped for a second, glaring at Nami for a moment. Warden Yakushi narrowed her eyes and stepped slightly in front of the girl. "Well, get going before your evening free time is cut short."
Takuma got up without complaint. Eiji grumbled, fully cowed in light of the blonde woman's presence. Warden Yakushi never tolerated his antics. He knew when NOT to push.
Without anymore words, the three left, leaving a trembling redhead with her.
Nonō sighed. What a mess this was.
The Matron looked at the small girl behind her. She didn't sense the girl despite her being right next to her. She must've drawn back her chakra.
"You're safe now, little squirrel." Her affectionate name for the girl slipped out by accident.
Nonō always found the reports of the child disappearing into the forest amusing. How didn't they ever find her? She was a young, untrained child without any special kekkai genkai, as far as they knew.
So Nonō followed her one day from a distance. The little one never went far, going a few meters into the tree line and staying nestled in the thick foliage of a tree, her presence all but erased from Nonō's senses. Well not completely erased. Her signal became…. Ambient, almost indiscernible from the wildlife around her.
When the child came in, leaves still in her curls, Nonō pictured a cute, little squirrel. Since then, the nickname stuck.
Back in the present, the little girl blinked, looking up at Nonō in surprise. Was this lady talking to her? No one spoke to her unless she was being yelled at. This set her on edge.
Internally, Nonō squealed. She was so cute! Those big eyes! Her red curls framed her face like a doll. And she was so small for her age… No way was she six or seven! She honestly looked closer to 5. Nonō knew she could pick her up easily. In fact, she was seriously considering it…
As if reading Nonō's intentions, the little one tilted her head, wondering why the blond woman was looking at her funny.
Gah! The Anbu operative turned her head and coughed into her hand, trying not to gush.
Nonō Yakushi may be a mother to many children, but even she had to acknowledge how adorable this child was.
That's why she was worried about her Little Squirrel. The child's lost weight since Nonō last saw her, looking different from the vibrant child dropped off several months ago.
"Have you eaten?" Nonō gestured to the door, guiding the little redhead out with a hand hovering over the child's back. Her experienced eyes instantly noticed how skittish the girl is.
Thankfully, she didn't touch her. The girl slowly followed her out the food hall toward her private office.
The whole time they walked, the little one kept silent, sticking close to Nonō's side, nearly blending in with the matron's flowing skirts. It was like she was used to shrinking herself and hiding in plain sight. Making herself invisible.
Once again, Warden Yakushi frowned. What has the child gone through, before Konoha and since coming to the orphanage, to develop stealth skills akin to a shinobi?
The shinobi in Nonō acknowledged that with a little training, the girl could be a good entrant for the academy. That is, if she had the support.
Unfortunately, Nonō couldn't give as much support as she'd like. She was pulled away from her duties to the orphanage more than she preferred. Other Village… responsibilities demanded her attention.
Because of this, things slipped from under her nose—the way children are treated; keeping watch over staff to make sure they weren't exploiting their position as caretakers; and the psychological and medical treatments for children who needed extra care went unmet. Like the child beside her.
It made Nonō angry at the lack of political power she had to adequately take care of her kids—and they ARE her kids. How could she foster these children, the bright hopes of Konoha, if Konoha didn't CARE for them? She dreaded the "support" some officials showed.
(She tried not to think of the little, confused faces as they're taken by people with hollow smiles and empty eyes under the guise of "going to a new home." Or coming back from missions to a few empty beds where little ones used to be.
When asked about what happened, the other caretakers averted their eyes or shrugged. And Miss Misoka, who always rubbed Nonō the wrong way, would always talk down on the younger woman.
She repeatedly tried to gaslight Nonō into thinking, "No such child exists! The stress of that position must be getting to you." The woman didn't hide her bitterness at not being a Warden, despite her years serving the orphanage.)
But Nonō knew the truth. She knew where those little ones went. She knew she couldn't save them all, no matter how hard she tried.
Still, while she's here now, Nonō swore she'd help at least this child before the little one's light snuffed out.
"Let's get some food in you." She said, bringing them into her office. There, she pulled out food from her private stash.
Honestly, it was nothing more than a ration bar, but she gave half to the girl along with a water bottle.
The little one stared in suspicion when Nonō handed her the other half of the wrapped bar for her to take with her.
Nonō's heart broke. "You'll be full from just half. Save the rest for later."
Her little squirrel - she really needed to find the child's name - stared hard at her face. Nonō waited patiently, keeping her intentions honest and open.
Seemingly satisfied, the child quickly snatched the food. Before shoving the bar in her mouth she paused, glancing at the blond lady. Then she broke it in half, shoving the rest in the pocket of her worn shorts. From there, she ate the given food.
Nonō sighed in relief. "Slow down. If you eat it slower, you'll stay full longer. And drink water." She lightly tapped the water bottle. "It'll help."
She hated having to share survival techniques taught to shinobi in the field to make rations last longer. But if the girl was struggling the way Nonō suspected… Well, there was nothing wrong with giving soft support.
Once again, intense silver eyes looked at her. For a second, Nonō saw tears welling up, making the girl's eyes look like shimmering reflection pools.
But quickly, the girl lowered her head, hiding her face behind fluffy bangs. Instead of words, she gave one nod of acknowledgement. She slowed her large bites to smaller nibbles, sipping the water every so often.
Nonō didn't comment on the wet drops that fell on her little legs, or the sniffles she heard as the child ate.
Yes, Nonō swore to herself. She would save this child. No matter what.
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A/N I almost cried while writing about little Nami's struggles. But Nonō to the rescue! Till next time.