p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="742c4979a3ee3318f5984a4372b853cf"After Kakashi and Ari's fight and Ari's breakdown, the two young Jonin grew closer. Often they would train together in their off time, catch meals together, and every once in awhile they would go on missions together./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2f4c07602b29c3ba0f46c3ea9a2d9e4d""There is absolutely no way," Kurenai style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Yes! It was so hilarious," Ari laughed, wiping tears from her style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Asuma, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Ari were sitting at Ichiraku Raman, sharing what was quickly becoming a regular Saturday night style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"How many times are you gonna tell this story, Aria?" Kakashi asked, frustration clear in his voice./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c78fe4c35aa1276d3451bb12ddbf69c9"Ari glanced at the silver-haired ninja. He had finished his bowl quickly and was now sitting with his arms crossed. Under his mask, Ari could tell he was blushing even though he was style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Earlier in the day, Ari had caught a group of girls their age, following him around. He easily had a fan club and it was clear as to why. He had always been cute, but with his age, it had grown from cute to handsome./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="65593b0c929d199fab7afae60d1428f6""As many times as it takes to not be funny anymore," Ari laughed. "Seriously, it was shameless. I don't know how you do it, especially since your teammate is the head of your fan club!"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"What do you mean?" Kakashi was defensive style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Oh please, Rin hangs on your everything like a lost puppy," Ari style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi looked confused. Ari and Kurenai rolled their eyes and shared a look then burst out style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You boys can be so oblivious," Kurenai style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Yeah, whatever. C'mon, Aria, Minato-sensei wanted to talk to you. I'll walk you home."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Party pooper," Ari giggled. "Alright guys, the bodyguard insists we leave. I'll see you Monday for training."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e7853dafb0004ed7b24d49bdf34dcd63"Asuma and Kurenai both said goodbye and the two Jonin headed out. They walked in silence for a few minutes. Ari loved the marketplace at night. The lights strung across the street from stall to stall, children running around excited while their parents happily followed them around. It brought a warm feeling to her chest./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cbc1c75b995514205a3abb06dd379d68""Were you serious back there?" Kakashi broke the style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Hmm?" Ari asked, pulling her gaze from a little girl swinging between her parent's style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"About Rin?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Um, I know you're not dense Kash. You've seriously never noticed? She's first to defend you, first to greet you, and her entire existence lights up when you talk to her."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="afae3e586d5b3ea8ece239bc9d09d1ae"Kakashi was quiet again, grunting in response. Ari smiled and then sighed, side-eyeing the boy next to her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d1134fa76cb74ac5dde9abdb1c6ed02a""Kakashi? Can I ask you something?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You just did."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Ha ha, I'm being real."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"What?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a3f1ca8c10919098c75f30a29d7b4e4f"Ari paused for a moment, thinking hard about what she was going to say next, she didn't want to hurt his feelings or bring up bad memories./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="451fe27d6c6dfbc9b5fd3fe0b5fe58d1""What was it like? Having parents, I mean..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e8d7f51defdfac26851c4c57a48f2f8a"Kakashi slowed to a stop. He looked caught off guard, which Ari could imagine he was. It was a random question about a sore subject. She knew his father had killed himself because a mission went horribly wrong. Minato had told her to be kind and understanding towards him after it happened./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6d7a7592b070d6befd89fa014d97692b""Um, I'm sorry, that wasn't appropriate, you don't have to answer," Ari awkwardly scratched the back of her style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi sighed and started walking again, "I never knew my mom, she died when I was a baby. But my Dad... he always made everything special. He always listened intently when I talked about training. We had breakfast and dinner together almost every day, he taught me a little about cooking and inspired my love of reading."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1852678beb495af3b83cfec88c423a44"A sad feeling washed over Ari. Her father had died before she was born and her mother had died in childbirth. All she knew was Minato and Master Jiraiya, who had been Minato's sensei. They were great and she always felt safe and taken care of. But it wasn't the same as having parents./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="895fb201549f957970f63d094f3970c8""Being a girl makes me scared... as a Kunoichi, I want nothing more than to fight and protect the village... but I do want a family some day. Id like to be someone's mom. Bringing a child into a world like this though makes me scared."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi was style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"I am sorry about your Dad, Kash. But it must have been nice to have one, even if it was for a brief time."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Minato-Sensei does everything for you a Dad does. Just because you don't call him Dad, doesn't mean he isn't one."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2e9c3e4f2af99edc433bb66b85665bfa"Kakashi's words resonated with Ari. He wasn't wrong. Minato was an amazing stand-in, she wouldn't want anyone else. She was sure he would be an amazing Dad someday./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4244b87fac54797e24b1a480ab12497f"Before long, the two were at the Namikaze-Uzumaki household. They walked through the door, took off their shoes, and found Minato and his wife, Kushina, in the kitchen./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5eed227e9f0635c0982f12d000a6e89a""You're back!" Minato style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"I do live here," Ari rolled her eyes. "And I brought Kakashi."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"And just what were you two young teens doing out on a beautiful night?" Minato teased his sister and his student./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ad9bfac99906ec994ea441c2e39c63f0"Ari immediately blushed and punched Minato, "Shut up you weirdo! We were eating with Asuma and Kurenai."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Minato acted like she actually hurt him, falling dramatically to the floor, holding his chest, and crying, "Why do you wound me like this?!"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Because you're annoying!" Ari style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Alright!" Kushina style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Both Namikaze siblings shot up, ramrod straight. "That's enough you two!"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Yes ma'am!" They said in unison./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3ad79ea2cc8eb74fb3430c4820b6d8db"Ari heard Kakashi snicker, but unfortunately so did the hotheaded Uzumaki woman. She turned towards the young shinobi standing in her kitchen./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fed1c6dbbffdba2fb2223b54efa02e56""And what are you laughing at?" She style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Nothing Ma'am!" Kakashi style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Suddenly, the terrifying demon turned back into a cute housewife. "Good! Now, Minato dear, I do believe you needed to talk to Aria. Kakashi, come here, I have something for you!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="722e3257c22f15f43f0a1560ea0ce62b"The three ninjas laughed awkwardly at the whip-lash of the redheaded style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Right, cmon Ari, I need to talk to you!" Minato said, grabbing Ari's arm and pulling her into the backyard. Ari glanced back at Kakashi, begging him to save her, but he was already walking deeper into the kitchen with Kushina./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b554313b9aa9e690ad61660fdc38f69c"After sliding the door shut, Minato walked into the backyard. Ari followed. She suddenly had the same uneasy feeling she got when Minato told her Obito died./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9341dd21165eb7dd8c147a126da08909""What's this about?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Lord Hokage asked me to bring you an offer," Minato said, turning to face his little style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"An offer?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"He wants you to join the ANBU BlackOps. You would be assigned to his personal squad and report to him directly. At fourteen, you'd be the youngest recruit. He's giving you until Monday morning to decide."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6c3dfca6db4cea231d753ad029837ca8"Ari felt her eyes go wide. A choice to join the ANBU? Word directly for the Hokage? That was a lot. A big decision. She only had ten missions under her belt as a Jonin captain. Surly that wasn't near enough.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a77cad99ebf2cce22bd916026ddabc97""I know it's a big decision, but it's a great opportunity," Minato style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"I don't know what to say... why?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Why?" Minato chuckled. "You're strong and smart and an amazing kunoichi, Aria. Why not? You would be a good asset to them."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"But?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Minato laughed and scratched the back of his head, "As a skilled Jonin, I say go for it. As your brother? It makes me nervous and I don't want you to do it."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Well, thank you, but yeah, I'm gonna have to think about it for sure... I don't know if I'm ready to leave my team yet..."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"That's fair, we can go see the Hokage Monday morning together."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="070cbcd28a7eb120cb6ddaa2dd10802d"Upon going back inside, they found Kakashi had left and Kushina was sitting on the couch. A part of Ari's heart clenched, he didn't even say goodbye.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b69644436d6e6d61c9de0ec15ef22f52"Sunday came and went and Monday morning rolled around much too fast for Ari. Today she would have to make a final decision. She hadn't slept the past two nights, contemplating the offer. She weighed the pros and cons and had come to a decision seconds before she and Minato walked through the door to the old man's style="box-sizing: border-box;" /They both bowed and then stood straight./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c2e1617fd0b3aae4a6a2ee4217c7b5e8""Well?" Lord Third asked around his style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"It's a generous offer, sir, and I appreciate it. But I declined. I'm not ready to leave my team, I don't want to leave them."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Very well, Aria. Should you change your mind, I would be pleased to have someone as talented as you on my team."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Thank you, sir," Ari style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You're dismissed, Minato, may I have a word?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Of course, Lord Hokage."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Ari bowed again, reassuringly touched Minato's arm, then left the room./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0270731ca7176d9a8b2e93276a478a72"After shutting the door, Ari turned to leave, but ran right into someone, knocking a stack of papers to the style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"I'm so sorry! I- oh, it's you. What are you doing here?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi huffed his frustration and knelt to pick up his papers, "What does it look like?" he style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Ari was taken aback by Kakashi's sudden hostility, "Um, being a jerk?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2474a7668082d358226fd0f3e2df76f8"Kakashi glared up at Aria. A chill ran down her spine. He hadn't acted this way towards her in a long time. She knew something had to be off, but couldn't think of anything that had happened, at least while they were together. Ari knelt and grabbed a few papers, handing them to Kakashi who snatched them from her hand./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a77bd17b1f5d2d83d387ffe9048f89c1""Seriously? What's wrong, Hatake?" she snapped at style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You're stupid, that's what's wrong!" he spat./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e677af344ad2ec76203493c7cb9b0785"The two stood and Ari felt a deep pang of hurt cut through her chest. She was confused! What had she done? But she was also defensive, Ari hated being talked to like that./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="561c8a33dcd8dd3132633c6728f363f3""What the hell is your problem?!" Ari all but style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You don't throw away an ANBU opportunity!" this time, he did yell. "You could have been on one of the best squads! People kill to have a spot there! And you're throwing it away?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="834962c3814b4d894dd31f67a9c307b6"Ari recognized the look in his eye. Sure he was mad, but there was something else. It was the same look Rin gave her all the time when Kakashi paid more attention to Ari instead of her. It was also the same look Asuma got when boys flirted with Kurenai./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="166444c6252c99181822f117648e3b12""You're jealous," Ari style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi's eye widened, then narrowed. Now he was angry, she definitely knew that look, "Why would I be jealous of someone stupid enough to throw away the best opportunity of their life?" He asked style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Stop calling me stupid!"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"What the hell is going on?!" Minato demanded, bursting through Lord Hokage's style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Both teens looked at the blonde adult. He was definitely furious. They were causing a scene in the Hokage's tower, right outside of the old man's style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Nothing," they both style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Well take your 'nothing' outside, you're disrupting an important meeting!" Minato style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Yes sir." "Yes, Sensei."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="77c43c847db4154198f1b865d1742b9d"When Minato closed the door again, Ari turned back towards Kakashi. Unshed tears burned her eyes and her heart raced with anger./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dbda29328bec84782d67311d9219262e""For your information, I'm just fine where I am. We see enough death every day, I'm not going to seek it out in the ANBU," Ari whispered harshly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="53e617479807a7fd84270957d9a77f65"The dark-haired girl then turned and rushed away, not wanting Kakashi to see how deeply his words had hurt her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2f4c07602b29c3ba0f46c3ea9a2d9e4d""There is absolutely no way," Kurenai style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Yes! It was so hilarious," Ari laughed, wiping tears from her style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Asuma, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Ari were sitting at Ichiraku Raman, sharing what was quickly becoming a regular Saturday night style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"How many times are you gonna tell this story, Aria?" Kakashi asked, frustration clear in his voice./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c78fe4c35aa1276d3451bb12ddbf69c9"Ari glanced at the silver-haired ninja. He had finished his bowl quickly and was now sitting with his arms crossed. Under his mask, Ari could tell he was blushing even though he was style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Earlier in the day, Ari had caught a group of girls their age, following him around. He easily had a fan club and it was clear as to why. He had always been cute, but with his age, it had grown from cute to handsome./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="65593b0c929d199fab7afae60d1428f6""As many times as it takes to not be funny anymore," Ari laughed. "Seriously, it was shameless. I don't know how you do it, especially since your teammate is the head of your fan club!"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"What do you mean?" Kakashi was defensive style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Oh please, Rin hangs on your everything like a lost puppy," Ari style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi looked confused. Ari and Kurenai rolled their eyes and shared a look then burst out style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You boys can be so oblivious," Kurenai style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Yeah, whatever. C'mon, Aria, Minato-sensei wanted to talk to you. I'll walk you home."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Party pooper," Ari giggled. "Alright guys, the bodyguard insists we leave. I'll see you Monday for training."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e7853dafb0004ed7b24d49bdf34dcd63"Asuma and Kurenai both said goodbye and the two Jonin headed out. They walked in silence for a few minutes. Ari loved the marketplace at night. The lights strung across the street from stall to stall, children running around excited while their parents happily followed them around. It brought a warm feeling to her chest./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cbc1c75b995514205a3abb06dd379d68""Were you serious back there?" Kakashi broke the style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Hmm?" Ari asked, pulling her gaze from a little girl swinging between her parent's style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"About Rin?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Um, I know you're not dense Kash. You've seriously never noticed? She's first to defend you, first to greet you, and her entire existence lights up when you talk to her."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="afae3e586d5b3ea8ece239bc9d09d1ae"Kakashi was quiet again, grunting in response. Ari smiled and then sighed, side-eyeing the boy next to her./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d1134fa76cb74ac5dde9abdb1c6ed02a""Kakashi? Can I ask you something?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You just did."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Ha ha, I'm being real."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"What?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a3f1ca8c10919098c75f30a29d7b4e4f"Ari paused for a moment, thinking hard about what she was going to say next, she didn't want to hurt his feelings or bring up bad memories./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="451fe27d6c6dfbc9b5fd3fe0b5fe58d1""What was it like? Having parents, I mean..."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e8d7f51defdfac26851c4c57a48f2f8a"Kakashi slowed to a stop. He looked caught off guard, which Ari could imagine he was. It was a random question about a sore subject. She knew his father had killed himself because a mission went horribly wrong. Minato had told her to be kind and understanding towards him after it happened./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6d7a7592b070d6befd89fa014d97692b""Um, I'm sorry, that wasn't appropriate, you don't have to answer," Ari awkwardly scratched the back of her style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi sighed and started walking again, "I never knew my mom, she died when I was a baby. But my Dad... he always made everything special. He always listened intently when I talked about training. We had breakfast and dinner together almost every day, he taught me a little about cooking and inspired my love of reading."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1852678beb495af3b83cfec88c423a44"A sad feeling washed over Ari. Her father had died before she was born and her mother had died in childbirth. All she knew was Minato and Master Jiraiya, who had been Minato's sensei. They were great and she always felt safe and taken care of. But it wasn't the same as having parents./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="895fb201549f957970f63d094f3970c8""Being a girl makes me scared... as a Kunoichi, I want nothing more than to fight and protect the village... but I do want a family some day. Id like to be someone's mom. Bringing a child into a world like this though makes me scared."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi was style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"I am sorry about your Dad, Kash. But it must have been nice to have one, even if it was for a brief time."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Minato-Sensei does everything for you a Dad does. Just because you don't call him Dad, doesn't mean he isn't one."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2e9c3e4f2af99edc433bb66b85665bfa"Kakashi's words resonated with Ari. He wasn't wrong. Minato was an amazing stand-in, she wouldn't want anyone else. She was sure he would be an amazing Dad someday./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4244b87fac54797e24b1a480ab12497f"Before long, the two were at the Namikaze-Uzumaki household. They walked through the door, took off their shoes, and found Minato and his wife, Kushina, in the kitchen./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5eed227e9f0635c0982f12d000a6e89a""You're back!" Minato style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"I do live here," Ari rolled her eyes. "And I brought Kakashi."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"And just what were you two young teens doing out on a beautiful night?" Minato teased his sister and his student./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ad9bfac99906ec994ea441c2e39c63f0"Ari immediately blushed and punched Minato, "Shut up you weirdo! We were eating with Asuma and Kurenai."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Minato acted like she actually hurt him, falling dramatically to the floor, holding his chest, and crying, "Why do you wound me like this?!"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Because you're annoying!" Ari style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Alright!" Kushina style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Both Namikaze siblings shot up, ramrod straight. "That's enough you two!"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Yes ma'am!" They said in unison./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3ad79ea2cc8eb74fb3430c4820b6d8db"Ari heard Kakashi snicker, but unfortunately so did the hotheaded Uzumaki woman. She turned towards the young shinobi standing in her kitchen./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fed1c6dbbffdba2fb2223b54efa02e56""And what are you laughing at?" She style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Nothing Ma'am!" Kakashi style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Suddenly, the terrifying demon turned back into a cute housewife. "Good! Now, Minato dear, I do believe you needed to talk to Aria. Kakashi, come here, I have something for you!"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="722e3257c22f15f43f0a1560ea0ce62b"The three ninjas laughed awkwardly at the whip-lash of the redheaded style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Right, cmon Ari, I need to talk to you!" Minato said, grabbing Ari's arm and pulling her into the backyard. Ari glanced back at Kakashi, begging him to save her, but he was already walking deeper into the kitchen with Kushina./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b554313b9aa9e690ad61660fdc38f69c"After sliding the door shut, Minato walked into the backyard. Ari followed. She suddenly had the same uneasy feeling she got when Minato told her Obito died./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9341dd21165eb7dd8c147a126da08909""What's this about?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Lord Hokage asked me to bring you an offer," Minato said, turning to face his little style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"An offer?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"He wants you to join the ANBU BlackOps. You would be assigned to his personal squad and report to him directly. At fourteen, you'd be the youngest recruit. He's giving you until Monday morning to decide."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6c3dfca6db4cea231d753ad029837ca8"Ari felt her eyes go wide. A choice to join the ANBU? Word directly for the Hokage? That was a lot. A big decision. She only had ten missions under her belt as a Jonin captain. Surly that wasn't near enough.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a77cad99ebf2cce22bd916026ddabc97""I know it's a big decision, but it's a great opportunity," Minato style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"I don't know what to say... why?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Why?" Minato chuckled. "You're strong and smart and an amazing kunoichi, Aria. Why not? You would be a good asset to them."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"But?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Minato laughed and scratched the back of his head, "As a skilled Jonin, I say go for it. As your brother? It makes me nervous and I don't want you to do it."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Well, thank you, but yeah, I'm gonna have to think about it for sure... I don't know if I'm ready to leave my team yet..."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"That's fair, we can go see the Hokage Monday morning together."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="070cbcd28a7eb120cb6ddaa2dd10802d"Upon going back inside, they found Kakashi had left and Kushina was sitting on the couch. A part of Ari's heart clenched, he didn't even say goodbye.../p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b69644436d6e6d61c9de0ec15ef22f52"Sunday came and went and Monday morning rolled around much too fast for Ari. Today she would have to make a final decision. She hadn't slept the past two nights, contemplating the offer. She weighed the pros and cons and had come to a decision seconds before she and Minato walked through the door to the old man's style="box-sizing: border-box;" /They both bowed and then stood straight./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c2e1617fd0b3aae4a6a2ee4217c7b5e8""Well?" Lord Third asked around his style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"It's a generous offer, sir, and I appreciate it. But I declined. I'm not ready to leave my team, I don't want to leave them."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Very well, Aria. Should you change your mind, I would be pleased to have someone as talented as you on my team."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Thank you, sir," Ari style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You're dismissed, Minato, may I have a word?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Of course, Lord Hokage."br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Ari bowed again, reassuringly touched Minato's arm, then left the room./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0270731ca7176d9a8b2e93276a478a72"After shutting the door, Ari turned to leave, but ran right into someone, knocking a stack of papers to the style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"I'm so sorry! I- oh, it's you. What are you doing here?"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi huffed his frustration and knelt to pick up his papers, "What does it look like?" he style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Ari was taken aback by Kakashi's sudden hostility, "Um, being a jerk?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2474a7668082d358226fd0f3e2df76f8"Kakashi glared up at Aria. A chill ran down her spine. He hadn't acted this way towards her in a long time. She knew something had to be off, but couldn't think of anything that had happened, at least while they were together. Ari knelt and grabbed a few papers, handing them to Kakashi who snatched them from her hand./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a77bd17b1f5d2d83d387ffe9048f89c1""Seriously? What's wrong, Hatake?" she snapped at style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You're stupid, that's what's wrong!" he spat./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e677af344ad2ec76203493c7cb9b0785"The two stood and Ari felt a deep pang of hurt cut through her chest. She was confused! What had she done? But she was also defensive, Ari hated being talked to like that./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="561c8a33dcd8dd3132633c6728f363f3""What the hell is your problem?!" Ari all but style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"You don't throw away an ANBU opportunity!" this time, he did yell. "You could have been on one of the best squads! People kill to have a spot there! And you're throwing it away?"/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="834962c3814b4d894dd31f67a9c307b6"Ari recognized the look in his eye. Sure he was mad, but there was something else. It was the same look Rin gave her all the time when Kakashi paid more attention to Ari instead of her. It was also the same look Asuma got when boys flirted with Kurenai./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="166444c6252c99181822f117648e3b12""You're jealous," Ari style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Kakashi's eye widened, then narrowed. Now he was angry, she definitely knew that look, "Why would I be jealous of someone stupid enough to throw away the best opportunity of their life?" He asked style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Stop calling me stupid!"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"What the hell is going on?!" Minato demanded, bursting through Lord Hokage's style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Both teens looked at the blonde adult. He was definitely furious. They were causing a scene in the Hokage's tower, right outside of the old man's style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Nothing," they both style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Well take your 'nothing' outside, you're disrupting an important meeting!" Minato style="box-sizing: border-box;" /"Yes sir." "Yes, Sensei."/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="77c43c847db4154198f1b865d1742b9d"When Minato closed the door again, Ari turned back towards Kakashi. Unshed tears burned her eyes and her heart raced with anger./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dbda29328bec84782d67311d9219262e""For your information, I'm just fine where I am. We see enough death every day, I'm not going to seek it out in the ANBU," Ari whispered harshly./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="53e617479807a7fd84270957d9a77f65"The dark-haired girl then turned and rushed away, not wanting Kakashi to see how deeply his words had hurt her./p
