The princess gave in.

If I could get Itachi to write back, then she would change the housing laws… as long as my clan also swore to protect her from the backlash.

She thought that would please me.

Both of us were surprised by how much angrier I got.

It was that easy. I just needed to dangle Itachi as a reward, poof, everyone had housing.

Meaning, if the princess wanted to, she could have done it this whole time.

The landlords might riot, but she wouldn't be the one fighting. The shinobi would. She wouldn't be the one staying up late enacting the changes. The civil servants would. She wouldn't even be the one taking the time to write up the laws. The scribes would.

She just needed to say the word and stamp some papers on her father's behalf.

There was nothing she needed to do that any street kid couldn't have done.

She just didn't care to. She saw nothing to gain if she did. Nothing to lose if she didn't.

Everyone's lives…

… depended on what personally benefited one royal family.

I thought about all the time I wasted arguing with government officials. The stress of sneaking people in and out of my apartment, everyone waiting for a chance of a hot shower. The good-hearted 1st leader splitting her prize money with me, all so we could get some new tarps against the rain.

I remembered Jonasan having to gently explain to Fiiru why he needed to be quiet, and the six year old boy learning he didn't need to do anything wrong to be illegal. For his existence to be illegal.

"AHHHH!"

I threw a cushion.

I was angry. I was so fuming, foot-stompingly angry!

My mom was right. Mayu was right. This had to go. Blast it! Blast it all to pieces!

While I tore up the guest room, the princess watched in concern. She didn't mind my temper tantrum, having thrown plenty herself. She had always figured I was silly and immature. But from her viewpoint, I had gotten everything I asked for. She couldn't imagine why I'd still be upset.

I didn't make sense.

I never made sense.

The shinobi from before flickered in. "Your Highness, we're ready—"

He saw my rampage.

"Is she… okay?" he asked, sweating.

"She did not eat anything at dinner." The princess paused. "I think she is hangry."

I bristled. "I'm not HANGRY."

"She gets hangry," the princess said, ignoring me. "Asuma, make sure you give her snacks on the trip."

"AHHHH!"

I did eventually calm down.

I grumpily chewed the teriyaki jerky stick that the shinobi, Asuma, had given me.

We left the palace gates together, a team of ninja following behind.

Outside the palace was a crowd of people. A lot of them were newspaper people. I had created a big commotion with my performance, attacking the princess and all. They were being kept away by the royal guards.

Seeing me, the crowd began shouting for my attention.

Waiting outside the palace for me was also Teacher Ekkusu.

I got immediately embarrassed. I ran up to him.

"Teacher Ekkusu! I! I'm so sorry, I—!"

"Congratulations."

I blinked.

"Eh?"

"It took me over three years to gather this type of audience. You managed in less than three months."

I blushed.

I shuffled my feet.

"I'm very thankful for everything you've done for me, but I need to go now," I confessed. "I forgot I had something very important to do back home."

"Go."

I had known Teacher Ekkusu long enough to know he wouldn't say no. I was still thrown off by how encouraging he was about it. He really was unlike any teacher I ever had.

Teacher Ekkusu lowered himself, so we could meet eye to eye.

"Do you know why I chose you, Ayae?"

"Because… I'm really good… at dancing?"

Okay, to be honest, I still didn't know why he hadn't picked Kimiko.

Kimiko was pretty damn good. Very cute too.

I learned that Teacher Ekkusu didn't care about dancing talent at all. He was confident in his own ability to make even the worst dancer one of the best in the world.

What he cared about was the person.

Just by watching a person dance, Teacher Ekkusu could understand everything about them: their dreams, their values, their heart and soul. He could understand things that even they themselves did not understand.

When he first saw me, I was very intriguing to him. Unlike all the other dancers, my movements were heavy and grounded. They were violent, the movements characteristic of a soldier-in-training, which he deduced immediately.

What made less sense was…

They were also open and vast and free. They were honest and trusting, happy to support and lift everyone nearby.

Teacher Ekkusu saw me as someone worth supporting in return. He wanted to see, if lent his power, what I would have to say, what I would try to do, where I would want to go.

Who I would become.

I had not disappointed him.

"If you see Kagami, tell her I was wrong," he said, rising up. "Her time was not wasted."

.

"Ayae!"

"Wait, wait, she's okay!"

The guards lowered their stance, letting Mayu skateboard over. She threw my backpack to me.

"I can't believe the plan worked! You're getting out of here!" she said, excited. She studied the ninja. "Huh, up close, they don't look that evil."

I scrambled to shush her.

Surprisingly, Asuma just laughed.

And Mayu, instead of backing off, took the opportunity to make small talk with him.

Her version of small talk.

"Say mister, what's it like being a royal kiss ass?"

He humored her. "Same as a nonroyal kiss ass, but with a retirement package and benefits."

"Are you aware people hate you?"

"Quite aware."

Mayu was caught off guard.

"Not to brag, but I do go for 35 million ryou on the black market." He posed, thumb under his chin, as if for a photo.

Mayu's eyes widened, before narrowing, looking him up and down.

"I think I can take him on," she whispered to me.

I also looked at the shinobi up and down.

"What rank are you?" I asked.

"Jounin."

"No, you can't," I whispered back to Mayu.

"I don't need to fight him, I just need to make him quit."

She kicked her board up and began walking beside him on foot.

To Asuma, she said, "Hey mister, have you thought about a different job?"

Mayu was a committed Akatsuki now. She was going to end the shinobi. By getting them to quit. And getting them to convince their buddies to quit. And getting them to convince their buddies to convince their buddies to quit.

She was…

Not bad at it, actually.

Knowing many ex-military growing up, Mayu knew how to hit ninja in all their insecurities.

Everyone hates you.

You're going to die alone.

Your employers don't give a shit.

Your life will be meaningless.

You're never going to have a family or kids.

If you do, they will absolutely resent you.

You'll never find true love.

If you do, they will die, or you will die, or both of you will die, if not physically then spiritually, as everything about you that is worth loving withers into a husk and you become everything that your kid self would have punched in the face.

Arthritis!

Mayu was so good at it, most of the ninja within earshot looked like they had been dealt critical blows.

I wasn't even a ninja, and I was ready to ask for mercy.

Only Asuma was unfazed, who looked to be waiting for one more item to call bingo.

Seeing this, Mayu switched tactics.

"Okay, but what if you only worked ten hours a week, and benefits included all-you-can-eat."

Now she was speaking his language.

Mayu had nearly gotten the team sold on the gardening idea when we arrived at the city exit.

And that was when we saw all of Tomoe's kunoichi gathered at the gate.

In front of them was Otoha, waiting for me.

Seeing the kunoichi, the ninja behind me pulled out their weapons.

All nearby merchants and travelers froze seeing steel drawn in daylight. One yogurt seller immediately wheeled away. Everyone else soon followed, until the street was clear except for us.

"Oh come on!" I cried, throwing up my arms. "We really going to do this?"

"Calm down," Otoha scowled. "You wanna go so badly, you can go."

"Then why are you still blocking me!"

Otoha lazily glanced at the sun. "Waiting."

"For?"

"Someone you'd want to see first."

I noticed the letter in her hand.

I stepped up, snatching it.

As I read, my eyes widened.

In the distance were wheels turning. A wagon was approaching the city gates.

Tomoe's kunoichi parted to let it through.

"Right on time," Otoha said dryly.

The oxen passed us. The driver, some big mustachio geezer with a pointy straw hat, pulled the reins. He eyed me funnily.

A head popped up from behind giant crates of cargo.

"Are we here— SWEETIE!"

"DADDY?!"

My dad climbed off the wagon. We tackled each other in giant hugs.

"I'm so sorry I missed your dance," he said, crying waterfalls. "The paperwork took so long to approve, even though I told them again and again they were not understanding, my daughter is performing, I had to be here before this day, not after, before. And then the security! Who knew the village is so opinionated about what you can and can't bring out, and wow, your haircut is spectacular, I love it!"

I puffed up my chest. "It is great, isn't it, daddy! Did you get new glasses?"

"Ooh yes. They are snazzy jazzy, are they not!"

Everyone sweated while we continued to chat and laugh and chat some more.

Then my dad noticed Mayu.

He nudged up his glasses. "It can't be, is that…?"

"Uncle Kenta," Mayu greeted.

"Mayu!" My dad excitedly shook her hand. "Wow you've grown, that is a very unique contraption you have there, how are you, incredible, is that for transportation, how is your mom?"

"Honestly, she might kill you."

"Ahaha that sounds about right!"

My dad turned to me.

"I see you've found Mayu. Does that mean you've met everyone else?"

I nodded. "Yup! Auntie, uncle, grandpa, nanny, mom…'s books."

"And here I thought I would bring you to them, but you found them all on your own, so very independent and smart!"

He patted my head. I soaked happily in the praise like a plant with water.

"Ahem."

It was the driver. We were blocking the road.

Sweating, we moved aside to let the wagon through.

"Daddy, I know you just came, but I remembered I actually forgot something very important back home."

"Oh no, I always hate it when that happens. When do you need to go back?"

"Three months ago?" I nervously laughed.

"Oh dear, then I won't hold you back."

We hugged.

"I will join you after I do a few things here."

"Also important things?"

"Very important things."

He squeezed me tight.

"Sweetie?"

"Yes?"

"I believe in you."

.

Mayu and I bumped fists. I thanked her for everything. She needed no thanks, just a promise that we'd see each other again.

"And it better not be another five years!" she yelled.

I waved my arms. "Promise!"

Together, my dad and Mayu went off to see the rest of the family. It had been years since my dad left, and he owed everyone a big apology.

As for Otoha, she said screw it and decided to come with me back to Konoha. Hearing that, Tomoe's kunoichi all scattered and disappeared.

Asuma was in charge of getting us a ride, but hearing how long it would take for a wagon to carry us, I aggressively chewed on another jerky.

I dug into my backpack. I found my water bottle and took a big sip.

I did stretches.

Otoha eyed me. "What are you—"

"I'm not waiting for a wagon."

I was not waiting another two to three days to get back.

I was not wasting even one more hour.

I was going home.

I ran.

Of the things that could get in my way, distance was not one of those things. I could run. I was good at it. I was eager for it. I could finally burn the extra energy inside me, awaken all of my muscles.

I ran through twilight. I ran in the dark.

It was perfect. Nighttime cooled the warm air of late spring. Almost summer, I realized.

I took breaks, of course.

But every time, Asuma and the other ninjas thought I was done for the night. They did not expect me to go again, and faster.

They must have assumed I was some silly girl who did not know how far the Fire Capital and Konoha were, or that I did not know how to pace myself.

By the last stretch, they finally knew my full sprint speed.

I made it just as the sun was coming back up.

I huffed, hands on my knees. Sweat rolled down my neck.

Otoha joined me, her breath heavy. She was using a tree branch to support herself.

"You are… such a brat."

I didn't care. I only pointed, laughing. There it was. Ahead. The Konoha gate, just as we remembered it.

Otoha softened.

I straightened up.

Before I could take another step, someone dropped down.

I stopped.

It was an ANBU.

Asuma lowered his knuckle blades.

"Hold up, that you, Kakashi?"

The ANBU removed his mask. I jumped. It was Mr. Hatake!

"Wow. You look like you need a vacation," Asuma said.

"Are you finally off yours?"

"Ha, never."

Mr. Hatake did not bother to argue with him. He was more interested in me. "Miss Ayae. Your arrival is unexpected."

"I finished school early!" I told him.

"There's no problem here, is there?" Asuma checked, confused by Mr. Hatake's appearance.

Mr. Hatake said nothing.

Finally, "No. I will notify her clan."

Mr. Hatake disappeared.

Anticipating a long wait, Asuma took out a cigarette.

"A clan kid, huh," he said, looking at me. "Should have guessed. What were you doing away—"

He hadn't the time to light the cigarette.

The flicker was immediate. The person this time had no mask.

My heart skipped.

Itachi.