This is a fun chapter.

And one I really enjoyed writing.

Dancing through the Mist, Mika and Shin both found it a real challenge to stay silent and act on it's purpose. Shin sneezed a lot in the Mist, and Mika never realized how many things he did that made sounds. The actual Mist Jutsu was effortless, especially for one that had mastered the first stage of water manipulation like Mika. It was a fun jutsu actually, a constant battle to adjust the density of the Mist and Mika enjoyed a challenge.

After three hours of practicing, Mika found his way back into Tsunami's house, where he was greeted with a warm smile. "How are you, kid?"

He smiled back at her. "I am well, a bit tired. Unlike Naruto, who's an Uzumaki and therefor bred for power, I am not blessed with lots of stamina."

She giggled. "Kakashi said they are still training, but you knew what he was teaching."

"That's the short of it, yes." He stretched, with his cat doing the same. "Shin and I bullied Kakashi into a new technique." He saw her worried stare. "He may be a shitty teacher, but he is a powerful ninja. One of the best in the world, actually Few can rival him. He is known far and wide, and the world fears him. At his best, he could take down a village."

She nodded, her eyes warming. "I trust you, you seem to be the only one that feels... honest, like a real ninja."

"I try." He tried to not flush at her compliment, but it was hard. "Now, do you need help with dinner?" When dinner did come hours later, Mika found himself talking to Kakashi in near whispers. "Who is to be guarding Tazuna?"

Kakashi hummed. "You can, with Sakura. She is the only one the master the tree walking technique."

Mika rolled his eyes. "It's not a hard technique, they should mastered this trick months ago." Kakashi actually cringed at that statement. "Why are you holding them back so much?"

The man did not respond, enraging Mika all the more but there was little he could do about it so he let it go...

For now.

"""

The Next Morning After Guarding the Bridge with Sakura

Mika wanted to scream, walking through the town of Wave destroyed what little faith he had in mortals. He wanted to kill someone as he saw and smelled so many sickly people. Men begging for work and food, children starved and emaciated, woman prostituting themselves. All for the teeniest chance at survival, which few would ever actually get.

Shin, who had been oddly silent, meowed. 'Daddy, why they so sick, so hungry?'

'The bad man, Gato, is starving them, Kitten.'

That got Shin to hiss. 'Kill Bad man?'

"We will... tonight." And Mika moved away from Tazuna.

"What are you doing?" The man asked, but Mika kneeled by some badly beaten, clearly starved children.

"Show me your arm." The boy, no more than five, lifted his swollen arm. Mika placed a hand on it, and let his medical chakra flow, weak and meager as it was. The boy sighed as the pain and wound faded. A small crowed surrounded Mika suddenly. He stood. "I am no master medic, but I can patch the bulk of you up. Kids come first, and those near death. I will do my best... please, respect my efforts."

And within the next four hours, Mika saw sixteen burns, forty bruises and over a hundred sprains and breaks. He did his best to patch them up, using all of his practice to bind the limbs, healing bruises and cuts and burns. It took all of his skill and experience, but still he felt not enough. His heart ached for the people of Wave. He knew then, as he practiced medically over the people, that he would never allow this to happen again under his watch. He would be better, stronger, more prepared and actually able to serve those in need...

'I am going to become a medical ninja, like Tsunade, a powerful soldier like Jiraiya and a overall badass like Orochimaru. I will use my heart, my head and my soul to overcome the evils of this world and survive it all...'

And like that, a piece of Mika's heart settled and he knew his purpose.

Shin, his sweet cat, acting as an emotional support buddy for the kiddos, hissed in his heart. 'Daddy, we are killing Bad Man Gato... right?'

'Absolutely.'

""

Kakashi was thrown as Mika lay down his proposition to assassinate Gato in the night. The boy approached him outside, just after the tale of Inari's father was told to them all. "You really wish to do that?"

Mika nodded, eyes cold and callous. "The man's evils are unbridled, he has done unimaginable damage to this place. I will not rest until his head is on a spike by my hands. I want to feel his life fade away as I strangle him with my bare hands."

The Elder Ninja shivered, the boy's words reminded him so much of Orochimaru's past self it was unnerving. "Why now?"

"I had to heal over a hundred people, sixteen of which will likely be dead by the weeks end. I need salvation in the form of violence. They need it in his death." His eyes, blue as Naruto's, burned with hateful light that was startling. And yet no Killer Intent filled the air, only the vast essence of his hate. It was an impressive thing... and yet Kakashi knew he was right.

"Fine, when the others go to bed... we will take Gato down. He is the crux of the evils here, getting rid of him would do a lot of good." What he did not say was that he feared what Mika would do if he did not help him in this. The boy looked ready to charge in, jutsu blazing, and end Gato personally... at least this way he could keep the boy safer...

And get rid of Gato, a huge plus.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.