Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Before we begin, I want to give a big thank you to xXSakuraBlossomsXx for your review! I appreciate you :D

Chapter 7

"What do you mean 'Minoko is a genin'!?" Mizuno screeched.

Yashamaru put the cup of tea he was offered onto the table. He was sitting with his student's parents while the children were in the other room. He could tell by their chakra that they were still listening in on the conversation, but considering that it was about them, he didn't feel that it was something that he should reprimand them for. If anything, he made a mental note to train them to conceal the chakra better.

Back to the matter at hand, Yashamaru looked at the couple seated opposite him. Taru had his jaw clenched in an attempt to reign in his emotions. Mizuno, on the other hand, was filled with rage and wasn't about to hide it.

"It's just as it sounds," he said calmly, "The Kazekage gave Minoko a choice, and she chose to pursue a career as a shinobi. He filled out the paperwork immediately and she was given her hitai-ate. It's a done deal and, unfortunately, you can't do anything about it. I'm here as a formality to inform you."

"A formality!? What the hell is going on!? She's just a little girl!" Mizuno screamed. Taru put a hand on his wife's shoulder and looked at Yashamaru.

"Why weren't we asked about this?" he asked in a firm tone, "We're her parents. She's a child that shouldn't be able to make these decisions on her own."

Yashamaru nodded his head, "I understand where you're coming from, but the Kazekage saw the maturity and drive that Minoko has. Honestly, there is no law in Suna that states that a parent has to give consent to their child becoming a shinobi. As long as the child expresses their desire to join, that's all that matters."

Mizuno collapsed in her chair, a vacant look of disbelief clouding her features, "So there's nothing we can do? Our daughter's going to be a killer? How did this even happen?"

Yashamaru felt a sense of pity come over him for the couple, "She's a very talented individual and we have high hopes for her. She-"

"You said that you were just training her to defend herself!" Mizuno cut in as she glared at the sandy haired shinobi, "You tricked us! How dare you come in here and steal my baby away from me!"

"Honey, please-" Taru tried to cut in.

"No! It's your fault, too!" she yelled, tears streaming down her face, "I wanted her to be a child longer. You just had to keep giving her more books and ideas. He said that the Kazekage thought Minoko was mature! Why do you think that is?" she said as she stood from her seat.

"Now wait a minute," Taru bellowed, rising from his chair as well, "Minoko was bored! She's a bright kid. If I only gave her picture books for normal kids her age, she would have suffered!"

"Well, now she'll never be normal, will she? She's going to be a killer," stated Mizuno, her voice going cold, "Her childhood is over."

Yashamaru watched helplessly, and a bit awkwardly, as the couple in front of him started arguing with one another. This was not going as well as he had hoped.

"Please, both of you, calm down-"

Mizuno's sharp burgundy eyes cut to him, "Calm? Why the hell should I be calm? You've taken my daughter from me."

"She's still your daughter," Yashamaru stated in a cool tone, "She'll still live here and give you hugs in the morning. She'll still call you mommy and love you with all her heart. But if you keep talking like that while she's listening at the door, she's going to think that you don't want her anymore."

Mizuno's face fell, instantly horrified as she turned to see Minoko standing in the doorway clinging desperately to Gaara's hand. Her little girl had tears in her eyes as she looked at her in fear, "Mommy?"

Her baby was scared of her. Mizuno's initial reaction was to go to her, scoop her up in her arms, and reassure her that she was loved. But then her eyes slid down to her daughter's neck, where she tied her new hitai-ate, and her eyes hardened.

This wasn't her baby anymore.

"Maybe I don't," she stated in an apathetically distant voice. To the shock of everyone in the room, Mizuno simply turned and strode out the door.

"Mizuno!" Taru called after her. He turned to see his daughter crumble to the ground, crying and choking on sobs that were probably supposed to be words. Gaara held her protectively and looked at Taru with cold eyes. Taru immediately walked up to the pair and reached out to touch his daughter's head. He jumped when a wall of sand came up to block him, his eyes darting to look at the young boy.

"Gaara," Yashamaru's voice came from the table, "Calm yourself."

"I am calm, uncle. But I won't let them hurt her more," the red-head stated in an even tone. Minoko kept her crying face against his shoulder, too scared to look up.

Taru got down on his knees in front of the two kids and looked into Gaara's eyes, "I will never hurt Minoko. No matter what happens, or what Mizuno thinks, she's my little girl. Even if she wants to be a shinobi, I'll support her and love her."

Minoko hesitantly looked at her dad and choked on a sob. She flung herself into his arms a moment later and cried, "W-what abou-about mo-mom-my?"

Taru patted her head and rubbed her back, "I don't know," he whispered, "But everything will work out. I'll always be by your side," he looked up slightly to see worried sea foam gazing at the bawling bundle in his arms, "And I'm sure Gaara will be there, too."

The red-head looked at him with his piercing gaze and nodded. Minoko sniffled a bit more before she looked at Gaara with a pained, watery smile.

Yashamaru sighed quietly. Yes, this wasn't at all what he had hoped for. But he supposed that he had to make the most of it.

A/N: Honestly, not where I originally wanted the story to go. But Mizuno didn't want to be written in the forgiving manner that I originally intended. *shrugs* Ah well.

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