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.
AN: I can't do a strikethrough. So the thoughts formatted (In italics and underlined in parenthesis) are the sub-conscious, true feelings of the character. Hope that makes sense!
Please enjoy the story.
Recap:
He said she was fine.
(GO.)
So why was she rushing? What made Kushina run down that street, desperate to see that familiar shade of red?
(HURRY.)
The jinchuuriki growled under her breath, frustrated. "Shut UP!" She yelled, leaping off the street onto the roofs to get a better look. "I'M TRYING, YOU KNOW."
That nagging feeling didn't insist so strongly this time. Instead, it lingered like a buzz at the back of her senses.
From the shadows, Nonō Yakushi slowly emerged, unseen. The file on Uzumaki-san was right, she is susceptible to genjutsu.
Nonō did her best to keep it subtle, not wanting to tip off her presence or the fact that she was putting a fellow leaf shinobi under a genjutsu.
But it was a risk she had to take. The child needed her.
* SPITE * SPITE * SPITE * SPITE *
Flashback: 2 Hours Ago, Konoha Orphanage
Once again, Nonō was pulled away from the orphanage to take on missions to help with funds. Her mission lasted much longer this time.
When she came back, tired and ready for bed, she first sought out her Little Squirrel, wanting to check on the child.
The girl's bed was empty. No. It was stripped of sheets and cleaned as if she was never there...
Rushing, she asked some of the girl's in the room about it. But they kept their mouths shut under the glare from Kiori-chan.
That little girl smiled at Nonō, lying through her teeth, saying, "Ms. Misoka said Tsum- Tsunami," She said the redhead's name like it was uncommon for her to say it. Nonō grimaced, having heard the rude nickname before-Sin, Tsumi.
"Tsunami's new family came to pick her up." The raven-haired girl went back to reading her book on flower arrangements. She seemed dismissive of her roommate leaving, like it was a nuisance to even discuss this. "She won't be back." She said in a false sad tone.
Nonō could only stare at the child. She wasn't even trying her mask with Nonō anymore. After Warden Yakushi caught Kiori, Eiji and Takuma trying to bully Nami, the raven-haired girl stopped using her good girl persona around Nonō. There was no benefit, so why keep it up?
Nonō only shook her head. "Thank you. By the way, it's time for afternoon lessons." Her tone broke no room for arguments.
Kiori gave her the stink eye, but nodded, putting the book under her pillow. "Yes ma'am."
Nonō waited till all the girl's left before turning off the light. Quickly she tracked down Misoka, her anger growing at the woman. There are procedures to adopt a child like Tsunami.
Originally, Tsunami was marked down as a "Child of Unknown Origin." However, in light of the report from the hospital that Nonō managed to get her hands on via Tamaki, a former colleague of hers, Nonō learned that the girl used several chakra-based techniques?! When Nonō factored in Tsunami's latent stealth skills, and chakra camouflage, Nonō built the case to change the girl's status.
In the last few months, by collecting evidence, Nonō was able to have the status overturned. Tsunami was now a "Child of Suspected Origin." This designation gave Tsunami more protection from the Clan Rights Laws and gave Nonō the push she needed to legally have Nami enrolled with a social worker who specialized in children with psychological trauma.
Things were going so well. She thought she could keep her promise and protect the little girl who hummed quietly and watched the east.
But Nonō was too slow. They found her.
Storming into the caretaker's room, Nonō stood over Misoka. The older woman, nearly asleep for an afternoon nap, shouted in fright at the anger rolling off the woman. "W-WARDEN! You can't just-!"
"Where is she?" Nonō hissed, narrowing her eyes at the woman. She wouldn't have dared authorized it. She wouldn't DARE.
Misoka immediately grew defensive. "You can't possibly expect me to know which of the MANY children you mean. What nonsense are you spitting?"
Nonō merely stared coldly at the woman, like she would a target of a mission. Misoka realized she wasn't speaking to the usual kind-hearted 'Maza' some of the children referred to Nonō as.
Misoka was facing the youngest Warden of Konoha's Orphanage: Yakushi Nonō, jounin of the Hidden Leaf.
"Where is Tsunami? The 7 year old in the south wing."
Nonō could see Misoka come to the realization. The woman's eyes widened then she looked away, pulling her robe tighter around her body. "Didn't you know? A sponsor came for the girl." She straightened her posture. "They offered additional resources for an expedited adoption. So I approved the application." Misoka looked at Nonō, challenging her with false bravado. "So. The girl is gone. For good."
Nonō lost her temper for a moment. Her KI unleashed on the woman. Misoka trembled, falling back onto her bed. Nonō stalked forward, leaning into her face. "If anything happened to her because of your negligence. I will authorize the Military Police to investigate every allegation and complaint ever filed against you."
There were several caretakers over the years who left, and some of those stories were finally trickling back to Nonō. How the reports went unnoticed till now smelled like someone was repressing the information intentionally. But Nonō couldn't worry about that without evidence. Still, she was done with the rat in her home.
"Y-YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" Misoka shouted, standing up. "You'd leave me HOMELESS? After all I've done for these... these wretches?"
Nonō refused to argue with the desperate woman. Good, her true colors were showing. That made this easier. "You can leave quietly before dinner tonight and never come back. Or Uchiha Officers can escort you down to the station for questioning." Nonō straightened, leaving Misoka pale and stuttering. "You choose."
With that, the Warden turned on a dime, intent on finding the girl's trail before she was taken by the group who stole children.
Back in the Present
It hadn't taken Nonō long to find Uzuamki-san. Nonō was just thankful the woman was in the village and not out on a mission.
Nonō couldn't fight them alone, and she needed someone with more power–technique and political wise–than her to help the girl.
It was Kami's will that her gambit worked. The genjutsu Nonō used to urge Kushina wouldn't have elicited that strong of a reaction if Uzumaki-san didn't already have the thought deep seated in her psyche.
That meant Uzumaki-san wanted to help the child too.
Perhaps Little Squirrel's fate would change for the better.
The red haired warrior was quickly catching up to Nami's last whereabouts. Nonō hoped she intercepted the child before Tsunami was taken to an unreachable place.
"Please let that be enough." Nonō whispered to Kami, disappearing from sight again. She had to make sure none of the other children were taken in her absence, and make sure the police captured Misoka.
.
.
.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the only set of eyes watching from the shadows.
AN/ Thanks for reading, I really appreciate you taking the time.