Pre-Academy Arc: Happy Birthday

Things didn't change too much with Sakumo taking on more missions. Yes, his absence was noticeable. Yuina was on higher alert with him gone for longer periods. Having a father strong enough to live as long as he had was a lot more reassuring to her subconscious than she ever realized. However, their routine shifted without complications. Yuina and Kakashi had taken on a few more household responsibilities and continued on as normal.

Yuina practiced throwing kunai while Kakashi practiced making more Shadow Clones. He even made one to stand beside her to give occasional pointers and ask questions about her research. The pointers would be more useful if she didn't have the grip of a child. No wonder kids broke so many things. It wasn't from inattentiveness but by having stupid elastic butter fingers. Still, she was improving despite her body's limitations.

"My chakra isn't connecting with other chakra." Kakashi thought back to Yuina's explanation. Even if chakra thinned out, he could theoretically make use of chakra from other sources than his own, as long as there was potency. If true, it would be an invaluable energy source. Finite sources like chakra and weaponry were important actors that could change the tide of battle. It was also why Dad stressed the importance of taijutsu and having a reserve.

Yuina frowned as she threw three kunai at once. "Is it tightly bonded?"

Kakashi's eyebrows scrunched inward. "Bonded?"

"Like…" Yuina tried to think of the words to explain it. "Does the chakra seem isolated? Like is it unwilling to attach to anything else?" Yuina hummed, unsure if Kakashi would get it. "Like boulders in a stream. Think of the water and the current as your chakra and the boulders sources of chakra you are trying to connect to. Do the boulders resist? Do they chip or break?

Technically, water erodes at rock either way, but it wasn't meant to be a perfect analogy. Some molecules just bind more tightly together than others.

"Like a big boulder resisting," answered Kakashi.

"Okay." Yuina considered how to investigate. "Are you actively trying to break down the boulders or hoping you could turn them into water?" Either was a valid response, but she needed something to build on. At the very least, chakra wasn't highly soluble according to Kakashi's statement, but it still left the question of how tight the bonded molecules were. It was also completely anecdotal to Kakashi's attempt. One trial made for horrible evidence and didn't include variables like chakra types, which may or may not be influencing results.

"Hoping to turn it into water?" Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "You just said to dilute the potency of the foreign chakra," he said accusingly. Like it was her fault he hadn't succeeded in his attempts.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm still trying to figure it out. If I knew, I wouldn't have to experiment or write so many notes." No one had ever questioned her intelligence in such an accusing way. At least not to her face. It was a giant stab to her pride. It hurt even more coming from Kakashi.

She didn't interact with many people, and when she did, it wasn't past a superficial level. Sakumo even tried bringing them to the park. He didn't say it, but it was probably to meet people. Yuina had been hesitant and reserved because how was she meant to understand what other family's children were thinking? How many were from ninja clans? Who were the deceptive ones? She'd rather spend that time with Kakashi alone, where they could relax and talk freely. His was the opinion she cared for. The village may have been promoting internal unity, but she would be a fool to think they've achieved that. The village was segmented for a reason.

"So, will you teach me the code?" Kakashi's eyes sparked with interest. There was a wall in one area of learning, so it was only natural to pick something else up to not waste as much time. If Yuina couldn't proceed with her chakra theory, then it was only natural she should teach him code. He had been helping her with her aim. It was only fair.

Yuina didn't want to deny him when she made that expression. She didn't know if it was genuine or he caught on to the fact it was her weak point. "I'll think on it." Kakashi looked too pleased with himself as he rocked back on his feet. "Next year." That would give her a few months to think it over.

"I'm not waiting for you the next time we train with Otou-san." Kakashi's clone dispelled himself. Yuina looked over her shoulder at the other Kakashis. Even as he received the memories, he acted as if nothing had happened. He always needed to have the last word.

Yuina sighed and looked up at the beams of sunlight streaming through the tree branches. Maybe it was time for a break. She entered the house to grab her bag from her room and left with a quick notice to Kakashi, who was still training but moved onto katas.

She felt bad leaving him alone, but it would be just for a bit. It wasn't like he was going anywhere. She didn't go too far, but she was out of view of their home. Yuina found an empty bench to sit on and took the ball of yarn and knitting needles out of her bag. She knitted as she listened to the gossip of nearby people.

Yuina didn't care what anyone said. Not all gossip was bad. Talking negatively behind someone's back and falsifying information wasn't a good habit, but there was more to gossip than that. It was a valuable social information tool. Learning what people have been up to through third parties is gossip. Reporting on people's behaviour is gossip. Talking positively about others could still be gossip.

Yuina used gossip, and discussion more generally, as a method to collect information about the people, the village, and the world. She tried not to treat everything as accurate, but everything wasn't inaccurate either. It gave her a starting point to decide what to look into. Besides, even if something wasn't accurate, people's perception was important too.

Miyako-san got engaged.

Tatsumi-san returned from a mission.

A group of friends were headed to a restaurant to eat BBQ.

The person in charge of the Archives stepped down and they have yet to choose a replacement. The replacement would be someone internal. The security and clearance needed to work there was allegedly insane.

"Yuina-chan. Your hair is especially cute today." The elderly lady from one of the street food stands approached.

It wasn't anything fancy. Her hair had been that way most days for several months now. More than that, her hair was a pain. It must be genetics. It made too much sense why Sakumo tied his hair back. She also didn't like being reminded of her hair. Most people had normal hair colours. Black. Brown. Blonde. She would have even preferred white over her grey-ish silver hair. She would even prefer the pink or purple hair she saw occasionally over it.

"Thank you, Rohaku-san." The woman likely meant it as a compliment, so it would be rude to fight her on it. Yuina also didn't need to announce her hatred for her appearance to the world.

"Oh my. Are you making something? Look at you. So skilled at your age."

It was a reminder that Rohaku was a civilian. What was some standard skill when she trained with weapons most days? People could buy clothes, but it was usually a sign of wealth, privilege, or celebration. More people still made their clothes even if they didn't weave the fabrics themselves. More than clothes, actually. "It's nothing complicated."

"My niece just began to learning and she's seven. Give yourself credit."

Her niece? Her spoiled niece? Yeah, Yuina wasn't going to use her as a comparison. Rohaku stared Yuina down until she accepted the compliment.

"Now take care."

Yuina continued to work on her project until she completed it. She looked at it from every angle before determining it was good enough before returning home. She only stopped once to longingly stare at some equipment that would have be useful for an at home lab but left empty-handed.

She slid the door open only to be greeted with the smell of grilled eggplant.

"You cooked?"

"It was my turn."

Yes, but they could have broken that for a day. "Thank you, Kashi-chan." They ate together. Afterwards, Yuina washed the dishes and passed them to Kakashi who dried.

Finishing up, Kakashi headed towards the stairs.

"Wait. I've got something for you."

Yuina rushed to her bag that she had left against the wall before she approached Kakashi once more. She held her hands out towards him.

"Happy Birthday!"

Kakashi looked at the knitted dog in her hands.

Yuina wished she could have gotten him a real dog. There weren't many things Kakashi liked that could be considered normal interests. That was something that needed discussion with the person who would have to pay and take care of it, as well with the owner of the house. She could sew, though, which was how she came up with the idea. Hopefully, it was a close second.

Kakashi remained silent.

"Do you not like it? I can make some adjustments." She didn't think he was breed picky.

"…I didn't get you anything," Kakashi whispered, horrified.

Was that it? That didn't bother her. She couldn't remember the last time she cared about celebrating her birthday.

"I didn't expect anything, but if it bugs you that much, then your punishment is to take extra good care of it." She forced Kakashi to take hold of it.

Kakashi walked to his room in a daze. He stared at the small dog figure before his head snapped around his room. There had to be something he could gift Yuina. His room was quite bare. His futon neatly folded in the corner. The top of his dresser was spotless. His supply drawers filled with paper, writing utensils, and training gear. He quickly realized he had nothing to give her.

He would have been fine without a present.

Yuina shouldn't have given him anything.

He eyed the toy once more and poked it. It was soft to touch and its features were distinguishable. He could tell she put her all into it.

Kakashi really liked it. He did. It reignited his desire to own real dogs. Lots of dogs. He was jealous to learn about the Inuzuka clan who got to grow up around dogs. Raised with them.

He felt utterly defeated. Kakashi wondered for hours whether Yuina only said she didn't expect anything to spare his feelings.

Eventually, he gave in and called it a night.

His door slid open and quickly pretended to be asleep. He didn't have it in him to have another conversation.

His door shuttered shut, felt the right side of his blanket rise, then was greeted with the warmth of another body laying down next to him, curling into his side. "I love you, Kashi-chan. Sleep well. Goodnight." She hooked onto her arm. It didn't take long for him to lean into the warmth. Kakashi steadied his breathing against her own. The two lulled into a peaceful sleep.