" We're leaving now?" – Katsuo asks softly, so as not to wake up Eiko, sleeping in his arms.

"Mm-hmm." – Kana replies, busy checking the bags (made with the fur of the bunnies and squirrels she had hunted) and feeling strangely satisfied with the amount of stuff they had now. Aside from the clothes and cooking utensils they'd acquired in the Men's Village, the coats made from the skins of wargs they'd killed, and the weapons they'd looted from the orcs, there were small "luxuries" she'd stolen from the elves - toothbrushes, tweezers, nail clippers, more needles...

"For those who started with nothing but clothes on their bodies and one katana, we're doing well. Well then... Minastir has talked a bit of Erebor, and Groak's recollections show that the orcs avoid that area because of the dwarves."

"Riki." – She called, gesturing with her hands for him to come closer. The boy looked at her in confusion, Raijin beside him.

"I need to put this on you." – She said simply, a swath of cloth in hand.

" Why ?" – He asks and Kana arches an eyebrow, making it clear that the answer should be obvious. Riki looked at Katsuo who shrugged, also not understanding and Kana sighed.

"Your dreams and the voice that speaks to you is manipulating you to find our location. Blindfolded, we got a little extra time… or at least we see how this works…"

"Hey! This is unfair! It's just a voice!"

"Riki, I know this is going to be unpleasant, but it's for our safety. Your…connection with just one voice is putting all of us at risk."

"You can't be sure it's because of me and the voice that the orcs are finding us. Not even if The Eye wants to harm us! He told me I could change into a wolf and save you, didn't he?"

"He forces you to have nightmares and everywhere we go this creature has been called 'Dark Lord', 'Enemy', 'Evil'. I don't think someone like that would act without pure interest. What's more, someone who can maintain genjutsu at a long distance for so long is a threat that is difficult to ignore, even if he was an ally. What he is not, you understand, right?"

"No! I don't understand! Why do you believe others anyway? Maybe he's not 'evil', maybe he just showed the nightmares because he wanted to tell me something, maybe he's just lonely! Just please trust me!"

"Riki, I don't trust someone who is keeping you in a genjutsu and I don't even know. In you, I trust." - She said, raising her hands in surrender, trying to appease the boy, without success. Raijin stirred, snarling at her as she approached Riki, who was mixing words in their language and the black language.

"Liar! You don't trust, no! Mom and Dad wouldn't blindfold me, they wouldn't..."

The younger one stops talking, all the anger draining away and an anguished, melancholy expression adorning his face. He lowers his head and starts walking in a random direction, ignoring Kana who calls out to him. The warg hybrid followed, Riki stroking his furry companion.

The girl looks helplessly at Katsuo, who was watching the scene with a sad expression. Eiko looked like she was still asleep, although when Riki used the black speech, she looked like she was about to wake up.

"Was that…missing his parents or something else?"

Katsuo makes a thoughtful sound, stroking Eiko's brown hair.

"Maybe. I also miss my uncle and aunt. They were quite warm when the clan elders weren't looking. Every day one of them asked how our days were, or they told us stories about them... Sometimes uncle Kato, even tired, took time to draw and paint with us. And Aunt Akane made our favorite foods on random days of the month."

"Oh." - Kana says awkwardly when the smaller one seems to get nostalgic, feeling like an intruder listening to something she shouldn't. When the boy looks at her expectantly, Kana is perplexed as it is not the first time he has looked at her like that. She had mistaken him for wanting a piece of food once, and he'd sulked all day, saying that wasn't what he was expecting (although he took the piece of fish very well).

"He doesn't expect me to start telling nostalgic stories, does he? Open my heart?" Kana thinks, a little amused by the thought. Sometimes she got the feeling that Katsuo wanted her to tell her life story or something.

"Nah. It must be something else."

"But it could be anything else." – Katsuo finally speaks, a slightly disappointed tone punctuating his voice. – "Stress from our restless sleep, the lack of a real home instead of temporary shelters, you almost dying, no elves to disturb, his transformation into a wolf… really, there are many reasons for us to explode. And I think this thing that talks to Riki is also affecting him."

"I think that too." – She answers, the two of them walking some distance behind the boy.

"Maybe Katsuo can make Riki cheer up? And preferably convince him to use the blindfold before I have to resort to force. It must even be good for Katsuo if he wants to remember better days."

"Can you... uh... go talk to him? Maybe swap a family memory or two while you're at it, talk about how you felt when you lost your parents before moving in with him and your aunt and uncle…"

The teenager gestured in Riki's direction for emphasis, missing the spark of anger that Katsuo had glared at her.

"No. That's your responsibility."

"Yeah, as I thought it's better for everyone if he…wait. Did he just say...no? And what the hell does he mean by 'my responsibility?"

"... what?"

"You heard. We've been together for almost a year and you act like we're just your mission. Well, here's the truth: you are our guardian, so start being one!" – Katsuo half whispered and half screamed to not wake up Eiko.

Kana was perplexed. She felt indignation well up in her because what she was hearing sounded like a bunch of shit.

"So, were they stressed? Well, take care of three kids in a different fucking world and do better than me then! What happened to these brats? What the heck? Is it some kind of rebellious phase? Heaven helps me if this is the damn puberty, everyone, talks so much about..."

"Boy, are you blind? I feed you, train you and protect you, if that's not being your guardian, what is?!" She replied, trying to keep her voice down.

"I don't know, maybe really try to get to know us and let us get to know you too!?" – He yelled, scaring Eiko out of her sleep and making Kana more and more irritated.

"Kaka? Kana-chan? What is happening?"– Eiko asks, disoriented.

"We need to get out of here and they come with talk of trying to get to know each other? What do these kids have on their minds..."

"You are orphans, Uchihas and children, for God's sake, what more do I need to know?" – She yells back.

"Oh great, now Eiko started crying because she thought I was yelling at her. Well done, Kana, great control of the situation."

"To begin, that I'm not an orphan! Or that Riki is afraid of the dark and that's why he doesn't want to be blindfolded! But you wouldn't know because you never bothered to ask us!"

Kana blinks, stunned and open-mouthed.

"Well. Damn."

The Uchiha runs and catches up to Riki, who has stopped to listen to the discussion.

"I… screwed up, didn't I?"

She looked at the three of them in the distance, feeling guilty and thinking about how she had been so arrogant as to assume Katsuo's situation, insensitive to assume that Riki would have no reason to refuse to be blindfolded other than being manipulated and trying to find a solution to fix things.

Although…she already knew what she had to do. She just doesn't know if she would have the courage to do it.

"Ugh. It looks like I'm going to have to do that 'open my heart' thing... Oh, man. I would almost rather face four more years of war."

The teenager catches up with them, hesitating for a moment. Wow, it had been a while since she'd said that.

"Sorry." - She says. The boys stopped and the Uchihas waited for what she would say next.

"I thought I was doing enough. That all I had to do was train and keep you guys unharmed without starving and thirsting and that would be It. I... I didn't think about knowing you, or about... how my distant way would affect our relationship. I-I... I'm not very good at sharing personal information... I'm not even good at taking care of children... But I'll try to improve."

The smaller ones looked at each other, smiling at each other.

"Here, here, Kana-chan, we accept your apologies." – Eiko declares, and then opens her arms towards Kana. – "Wanna hug?"

Kana smiles, picking up the little one, and after a pause, she looks at the other two, uncertainty in her gaze and flushed cheeks as she gestures for the other two to join the hug. Riki and Katsuo are wide-eyed at the offer, Katsuo being the first to recover and hugging her as if his life depended on it. Riki joins in a second later, shyly, enjoying the warmth of the arms that held him.

"Uh... does anyone know how to do this 'get to know each other thing? I kind of never really needed to do this before."

Katsuo laughs.

Riki snorts.

Eiko lets out an "ah, I know, I know, I know: what's your favorite color? Mine is yellow!"

A smile spreads over Kana as she explains the new plan to Riki that everyone, including her, would be blindfolded in turns. He still looked uncomfortable, but more willing to accept it, especially when she explained that they would hold each other hands and that doing so would increase not only their reflexes (without their sense of sight) but also their trust.

"So... Katsuo, can you tell me more about yourself, about how you started living with your aunt and uncle? I remember when Kato returned with you to the Uchiha's complex, you looked quite dejected, so I assumed you were an orphan."

"Well, uncle Kato was my mother's brother, but she was illegitimate and, on top of that, she had the chakra reserves of a civilian, so it wasn't until Grandfather died that Uncle Kato found out he had a sister. I think they got along well, I'm not sure, Uncle Kato didn't talk much about her. I don't remember much about her, just that her name was Ryota... She took their things one day and left with a merchant. Just...she left, you know? As if we were nothing. I don't even remember her face. I think I was about four years old."

"Oh, she was a bastard Uchiha. It makes sense, which is why I never saw his mother at the complex nor found any information about Kato or Akane having siblings."

"Dad has taken care of me ever since, but…mnn. Do you know the three ninja prohibitions?"

"Which one did he break?"

"All of it."

"What are these prohibitions?" – Riki asks, moving slowly since he was blindfolded.

"Bets, drinking, and women, although that last one is really about toxic romantic partners, regardless of gender. Anyway, I'm assuming this got your father in trouble, Katsuo?"

"Yeah. He had a lot of debts, and one of those was from a nobleman whom he irritated a lot. The man decided that, ninja or not, he had to pay somehow. He was arrested... but as it wasn't the only debt, some loan sharks came to collect at my father's house and as they couldn't find him... they... they... decided that I would serve. But Uncle Kato showed up on time, so it all worked out."

"Oh no. Did they...?"Kana thinks, a wave of anger rushing through her and many scenes going through her head.

"What did they do to you?" She asks, a small killing intent leaking out.

"Uh? Well, they beat me up a bit and said they were going to make me work until dad's debt was paid off.."

Kana watches him closely, looking for any signs of discomfort or embarrassment, but Katsuo was pretty casual about the whole thing.

"That was… that was all, right?"

"Of course! What else would they do?"

"Mn." – Kana mutters, looking away, although Katsuo was also blindfolded, without really answering.

"So your father was imprisoned and you were in Kato-san's guardianship? And when did your father get out of prison? This type of crime only keeps someone in jail for two months at most."

"Kato and Akane asked to stay with me. Dad... he still wasn't well. He said he needed to be someone better before he was able to take care of me. Father visited often. we went out together, too, just the two of us and sometimes everyone – me, Riki, uncle, and aunt… He was getting better, you know? Before... we came into this world. He didn't bet anymore and recently he's managed to cut down on the drinks. He was also in a serious relationship for the first time in years. I miss him. Of all of them."

Kana looked at him sympathetically and watched as Riki squeezed Katsuo's hand in silent comfort.

"B-but! What about you? Tell me something about yourself!"

"Something about me... something about me... Hmmm..."

"Otou-san... Kaachan..." Eiko whispers thoughtfully and Kana looks at the child, who puts on a determined face. – "That's it! Talk about your mummy and daddy, Kana-chan!" – Eiko exclaims, eyes shining in curiosity.

"Cute little thing. It doesn't even seem like two months ago she couldn't even walk or speak properly. Who takes the shortest, cutest little steps in Middle-earth now, huh?"

"There's not much to talk about. My father died before I was born, on a mission. Mother was on the front lines during the third war when she went into labor. She only managed to give me a name and hold me a few hours before she died." – Kana says calmly, not really caring. Gone were the days when she thought about her parents.

" I don't have parents either… do I? That's why Kana-chan says not to call her Kaachan."

Kana shook her head, watching her with interest.

"Does she really understand what that means?" The Uchiha wonders. Eiko was still very young, but at the time they lived with Minastir the words "daddy" and "mummy" seemed to have come so naturally.

"And you, Riki? Want to talk about your parents?

She didn't think Riki had smiled so brightly before. The boy looked a lot like Eiko at that moment, with dark brown hair and round cheeks with a lovely rosy glow.

"They were the best! There was this time..."

"Oh, dear. This is going to be long, isn't it?" Kana reflects and happily listens to Riki and Katsuo's many stories about their family. She doesn't comment on how Eiko asks her to carry her and how the little one holds her tighter when the two Uchiha boys seem to glow with happiness when talking about their parents.

"I think... you can call me Kaachan from now on, if you want, EIko." - Kana whispers and the little girl shakes her head.

"Mnn...'kay."

Red soil and dry air are a familiar sight to the dwarf. It's a route he takes every year, the same old sense of humiliation every year. And he would still have to try to persuade those arrogant dwarves of Erebor to join the mage. Uh.

"Will you try to find the Red Eyes too, Düin?" – His cousin asks.

'With such a reward? Who won't try to find them? Ha! Every dwarf in Dunland will search them."

"That's a pretty generous amount of gold. It would save us from having to make deals with savage men." - He answers. - "But it's strange, and there are few details about the targets. Why do you think the white mage wants these men?"

"I don't know, I don't care. Whatever they did to piss off the mage is their business. Besides, you can't lose someone with red eyes, it doesn't even need more descript... Do you see that Nor?" – The dwarf, with brown and a bit of gray hair and beard, asks, narrowing his eyes at the figures in the distance. He looks at his cousin and they both draw their weapons.

"Looks like a group of men taking a break from traveling… He. How... unfortunate. I just realized that our provisions are running low. Do you think they have any rum?"

"Nor. They're outnumbered, let's not steal them... ah, shit. Is that a warg?"

"Allies, then? Good." – The cousin comments and presses the step. Düin clicks his tongue, exasperated by the youngest's impulsiveness, who yelled at the strangers, waving. The closer they got, the stranger the sight of them was: a warg, and three hooded figures, one that looked like a man and the other two were small as dwarves, though even from a distance they seemed to lack the stout frame of a dwarf.

The amber-eyed black wolf growls in warning as they approach and Düin is very ready to pounce if need be.

"We didn't think we'd find allies heading to Ere… Huh? Children?" Nor stops, looking at the little girl in the lap of the larger hooded figure.

Düin is also perplexed. He sees now that they were of the race of men, two boys and perhaps a man, but even that was not clear on account of the obstruction of the face. One of the boys, the youngest, was blindfolded. All of them had masks covering their faces.

"Can I help you?" – The adult (or so he assumed), questioned and Düin frowned upon realizing that he was also blindfolded, thus leaving almost no skin and features in sight.

"Is he blind? But if he is blind, how could he be traveling with these children alone?"

"Actually, you can. We would like to take a break and this meal looks quite appetizing. Oh, my manners. Nor, son of Narir, from Dunland."

"Düin, son of Drasuil."

"Mn." – The adult replied vaguely and then pointed to the food in the pot. – " You can have all the food there."

The dwarves look at each other, suspicious and somewhat annoyed at not having their greetings returned.

"But the food smells good."

"You wouldn't have rum, would you? Or beer, for that matter." - Nor asks, looking at the traveler's belongings from afar.

"No." - Answers the adult, in a dry way.

Both served themselves, carefully studying the behavior of the travelers.

"It's kind of rude not to introduce yourself after we've already revealed our identity." – Nor says, apparently in a casual tone. Düin watches.

"Oh?" – The man responds and there's a slightly amusing quality about it that really gets on Düin's nerves. The blind man will not reveal anything. It's also unnerving that the man doesn't ask them anything and doesn't seem the least bit curious or wary of them – and the children seemed to be accepting of this behavior, being completely relaxed and silent, even though the boys are visibly curious. Düin is deciding whether the adult is someone naive, albeit rude, or arrogant and stupid, to not consider them as a threat. Nor, however, was someone more socially skilled.

"It's always a pleasant surprise when we meet children on our travels."

"Speak for yourself, they're all pests." – Düin grumbles and receives a sharp elbow from the youngest. Nor continues to talk to the blindfolded boy and the older (unblinded) boy, smiling.

"What are your names? Come on, come on, don't be shy."

"Hmm... I'm Minastir. The youngest here is Orion."

Düin smiled when Nor charmed the children, and surely he would snatch a few bits of information, looking smugly at the blind man. To his confusion, he didn't look the least bit reproachful or agitated, and soon Düin understood why: the children were so good at being evasive without being rude that it was almost as if they were trained to do so.

"I've heard that dwarves are masters of the forge." – The boy who was blindfolded said. – "If we're heading to the same destination, I'd like to check it out when I don't need this anymore." He pointed to the blindfold and Düin frowned.

"This? Are you not blind?"

"No. It's an exercise of trust we do when we travel. And it helps to improve other senses." – The man who had been silent until now explained.

"That's weird." The cousins thought and Nor then questioned.

"Orion, maybe if you tell me where you're going, I can tell you if you'll be able to get a look at our weapons."

"Where we're from, talking about our final destination aloud brings bad luck." – Minastir interferes, and even though his whole posture screams innocence, Düin is sure that's his way of saying dwarves shouldn't intrude. Just to be sure, Düin scoffs:

"Really? What a strange place. We, on the other hand, have no problem saying that we are going to..."

Faster than he could understand, a hand covered his mouth, and he found himself facing the hooded man, absolutely still, who shook his head and put his hand under his mask, making a gesture of silence.

"Bad Lucky."

"Dangerous." Düin thinks of that man. The conversation returns a few moments later, with Nor and Orion talking excitedly about weapons, but Düin still squints at where the blindfolded man was wary.

The dwarves find they are heading the same way. Düin hates to admit it, but he starts to get attached to children – although Eiko was too energetic, Orion was quite an intelligent and inventive creature for a human. He still didn't like Elaine — which was what the children called the woman. He was surprised at her gender, but it was only for a short time – like the Wild Men of Dunland, it doesn't seem to matter much if the human females were the ones hunting and protecting their family. Dwarf females were also quite independent, but even they usually had their mates during such a journey. Not that Elaine needed it, from what he noticed.

Strange women aside, Düin found himself quite surprised when Orion asked him for an apprenticeship during his stay, and even more surprised at himself when he said he would "give some tips" – Düin was not going to have a pupil. It was only because the boy didn't seem like a total waste of time and space. Even with his non-pupil, his cousin Nor joked that it was the desire for fatherhood reaching out to him. So, after the usual month of trading and selling in Erebor, rather than returning with his cousin, Düin decided to stay and teach the boy a little more of his craft... but not as an apprentice.

And what a talented boy he was. Düin had never seen but a dwarf to have as much fondness for the forge as this little human, and his skill was one thing that could only be described as blessed by Äule himself.

Düin even forgot the reward for the Red Eyes, the troubles of his land in Dunland, the mage's plans.

But the wizard did not forget about the children.

Neither did the Eye.

"Okay, brat, that's it for today." – Düin shoos away Orion, the quiet human prodigy with a sharp intelligence that he occasionally teaches.

"But... already?" – The boy mutters, pouting.

Kana watched the scene quietly, hair tied back and hidden by the hood, always studying him carefully each time she came to get the boy. Düin hated it, it was as if she was just waiting for him to commit some crime, something wrong. She was like that with everyone, at least. He would have already gone for aggression, female or not, if it was just him. At least she acknowledged his presence. The other men at the forge didn't even seem to exist to her.

"Your sister is there, boy." – Düin responds and the kid's despondent countenance diminishes, a glow of admiration and curiosity every time he sees her.

"Kana-neechan! Will you tell any of your genin stories today?" – The little one surrounds her, almost jumping on his legs in excitement.

"Hai, hai, don't be impatient, little wolf."

"That bizarre nickname again." Düin thinks uncomfortably. He wondered if it was because of Orion's affinity for the warg hybrid, but even then something still drove him on edge with that nickname.

"Düin." – The woman greeted, waving briefly before leaving the forge where he worked when he spent time in Esgaroth (the dwarves of Erebor could host him, but they would certainly be bothered after a while, he preferred to stay in the city of men, it was more practical, each one minding their own business without intruding like the dwarves).

"Weird people."

Something had him on edge with all of them, except Eiko. He was curious and that human children were still too much of a mystery for him to be relaxed, especially the older one. There was something odd about them – and it wasn't just the way they looked (from what little he saw of the boys and Eiko), but how could a bunch of kids tame a half-warg, something only orcs used to do? And the way they talked, carried themselves… much like soldiers for comfort. The dwarf knew next to nothing about them, even Orion was vague when it came to giving information – he only knew that they were orphans who were trying to make a better life and that some kind of massacre had taken place in the family because Orion ended up letting it slip.

The dwarf sighed and cursed, remembering that there was no point in speculating about that strange family because soon he would have to host Nor – it had been a year since the last negotiations, after all.

"Kaa-chan! Kaka, Riki, and I have already showered and brushed our teeth, we want a story! Tell us a story"

"Oh? Should I? Someone was quite distracted in training today."

"It's my birthday, give me a break, woman." – Katsuo complains, lying on the futon that Kana had made for them.

"Damn it. He's already twelve, isn't he? He's growing up fast. I feel old."

"Hmm... Alright. But tomorrow you and Riki will make another twelve rounds in the mountains. Don't let the dwarves notice you."

"Ha! You deserve it, you deserve it! La-la-la-la, you're going to faint!" – The little girl said, sticking her tongue out at the boys who rolled their eyes.

"And you, pretty girl, are going to take eight laps around the lake."

"What? But this is not fair! Why?"

"You ate the cookies I told you not to eat."

"Errr... It wasn't me! It was... it was... it was Raijin and Riki. That's it." – The little girl says, pointing to the two. The warg tilts its head and lets out a dissatisfied growl, almost like a complaint, as Riki points back at her indignantly.

"Hey, stop being a liar! You little brat, next time I'll put a spider on your plushie instead of a frog!"

"So, it was you! See, Eiko, I told you, I wouldn't do that!" – Katsuo intruded, crossing his arms.

"Oh gosh. I am definitely not paid enough for this."

Kana feels a rough tongue in her hand, the warg wagging its tail, and strokes it.

"Eiko" – Kana calls simply, preventing the children from bursting into screams and accusations even more. The child looks at her, expecting a reprimand, as do the other two.

"Next time you want to steal something, don't leave a trace. There were crumbs on your bed and ants everywhere this morning. And learn to lie better, if you want to blame someone else you have to look believable... like Riki did when he convinced you that Katsuo was the one to put the frog in your plushie".

"Hai! I understood! I'll do better next time!" – The girl says, her face determined.

"Absolutely adorable." Kana thinks, smirking.

"Riki, you have fourteen more laps tomorrow. Your slip of the tongue spoiled your successful mission. More caution next time."

"Tsc. I know, I know." He said, pouting and crossing his arms.

"Katsuo, be smarter and find an alibi if you're accused again. Or fake one if you're guilty."

"Hai, Kana-neechan." – He sighs and accepts the advice. Kana smiles.

"Now…where did I stop?"

"You were telling us how you graduated as a genin at age six! So young! Dad said that genin usually graduate at eleven or twelve!" – Riki says excitedly.

"Well, duh, it's Kana-neechan." – Katsuo said proudly.

Kana feels her cheeks get hot and she clears her throat uncomfortably.

"Uh. That. In fact, I can't say that I graduated due to raw talent. I'm not a genius, kids."

The children look at her in astonishment.

"But then how...?"

"We were at war." – Kana explained, taking the map she drew of the Elemental Nations (stealing papyrus and ink from some distracted villager, but who cares?).

"What is war, Kaachan?" – Eiko asks, snuggling into Katsuo's lap.

"It's where a bunch of people hurts each other, usually by someone's orders."

"But why? Why do people hurt each other? Can't you make this war without hurting anyone?"

"No. Someone always gets hurt. Even those who win get hurt. That's how war is, Eiko."

"Why does war happens?"

"Desire. It always starts with desire - the desire for power, the desire for another land, the desire for more money... desire to defend your nation, the desire to fight for a cause, the desire to protect the one you love. Sometimes a little bit of all of that. There is no single answer."

"I…don't like it when people get hurt." - Eiko says sadly and looks at her worriedly. – "Did Kana get hurt?"

"Yes. But I also hurt a lot of people, Eiko."

There was an uncertain and awkward silence between them and Riki intervened:

"So…how does war have anything to do with you becoming a genin at six?"

"Many shinobi died during the war. Konoha needed soldiers... and the orphanages were full of people who could hold a kunai and carry out orders. I didn't have raw talent, boys, and did not receive the best ninja training you could ask for."

"Konoha isn't like that... They wouldn't just send children to die, without any proper training..." Katsuo whispers, but the tone is colored by doubt and uncertainty.

Kana snorts, shaking his hair, and he stares at her with a lost gaze, so childish she almost wants to take back what she said and embellish the truth.

"But I promised to be as honest with them as possible." She thinks.

"Don't think about it too much, Katsuo. Anyway, they assign the kids to less risky missions, infiltration, messaging, cleaning up the battlefields, and taking supplies... if you're still alive after a year, they give you the temporary genin title and send you to more dangerous missions, until suddenly you find yourself in the middle of the front lines."

She paused, taking a sip of her tea and looking out the cabin window at the starry night, losing herself in memories and then scratching the back of her head with a deprecating smile.

"Sorry, guys. No extraordinary Uchiha who graduated out of genius. I just... survived. And I kept on surviving."

"I disagree. You are extraordinary. For being a survivor. For making us survivors." – Riki said, looking at her with solemnity and a noble air that made her blink in surprise.

"Precocious boy." She huffs, smiling and giving a gentle shake of her head in acknowledgment of his words, while inside she feels warmth and gratitude that she's not sure she's ever felt before.

With those three, she really... really... was happy.

"Well. Dammit, who cares about a little exposure if the result is this warmth? Katsuo was right to scold me, all those months ago. The price of trust is trusting... and letting the know you."

"And your teammates? The jonin sensei?" – Katsuo asks, looking extremely desperate to find some kind of positive point in her training.

"Terrible, all three. A moody idiot, a sensitive crybaby, and a sensei with no sense of humor."

"They shouldn't be so terrible if you're smiling like that."

"No. I suppose not." – She admits and her smile grows. – "Should I tell you the time Ami, the hot blood girl, managed to blow up an enemy base by accident?"

"Oooohhhh? Explosions! I like explosions!" - Eiko says.

Riki sprawls further in the armchair, content.

"If only this could last forever..."

[You don't want this monotonous life forever, Riki. You are made for better things. For grandiosity.]

"Go away. I don't want to hear you now."

[Fine. But you know it's true. Because nobody knows you better than I do.]

"Who are you, after all?"

[You will find out. Very soon.]