The girl awoke with a start, her instincts firing. The moment Minato's chakra hit her senses, her eyes flew open, wide and wild, pupils dilating as she scrambled out of the chair with a panicked flail. Her hands shot out, desperately searching for stability, but in her frantic state, she only succeeded in knocking over the chair. She hit the ground with a thud, immediately retreating into the farthest corner of the room, her breath coming in sharp gasps.
The girl's eyes darted around the room, every muscle in her body tense and ready to flee. But then her gaze landed on Minato, and she froze. Her breath hitched, the fear in her eyes growing more intense. She could feel it—the raw, overwhelming power radiating from him. Strong.
Kakashi stepped forward, his voice soft, calm, trying to reach her. "Hey… it's okay. You're safe. No one's going to hurt you." He made the same signs she understood: me, you, safe, but the girl barely registered him. She was hyper-focused on Minato.
The girl was curled into herself, her small hands gripping the fabric of her shirt tightly as if holding on for dear life. Her body trembled with every breath, and a soft whimper escaped her lips.
Minato, noticing the girl's reaction, didn't move at first. He kept his posture relaxed, non-threatening, his sharp blue eyes softening slightly. He understood now what Kakashi had meant, she was operating purely on instinct, and his presence wasn't helping. Slowly, he knelt down on one knee, lowering himself closer to her eye level, making himself smaller in her eyes. His movements were measured, deliberate—designed not to startle her.
"Easy," Minato said softly, his voice gentle after a whimper left her lips. He let his chakra settle, changing it into a more subtle, calming aura.
The girl blinked, her rigid posture loosening slightly. Her wild eyes flickered with confusion as she continued to stare at Minato. His soft blue eyes met hers, and though he was the most powerful man in the room, there was no hint of dominance or danger in his gaze. Just... Gentle.
The girl's trembling began to ease. Her eyes shifted, taking in the way everyone reacted to him. He was the leader here. Strong. Gentle. Alpha.
Her gaze flicked between Minato and Kakashi. Slowly, tentatively, she began to crawl forward on her hands and knees, inching closer to Minato. Her movements were hesitant, like an animal approaching something unknown but drawn by a feeling of safety.
Kakashi's heart twisted at the sight. She doesn't trust me anymore. The loss of trust hit him harder than he expected, but he didn't show it. It was like a knife twisting in his gut. She had looked to him for protection, for understanding, but now... she saw him as part of the danger.
He wanted to reach out to her, to tell her it was all a misunderstanding, but he knew that any move he made might just scare her further. Damn it.
Minato didn't move as the girl inched closer, his calm gaze never leaving hers. He waited, giving her the space and time she needed to feel safe. His hands rested loosely on his knees, his posture open and non-threatening.
She stopped just in front of him, hesitating for a long moment, her eyes flicking up to meet his, still cautious. Minato remained quiet, his blue eyes soft and patient. Slowly, the girl let out a soft, tentative sound—a purr, low and steady, a greeting. Her hand lifted, trembling slightly, as she reached out to gently touch Minato's knee.
Of course she trusts Minato, Kakashi thought. His sensei had always been the kind of person people were naturally drawn to. He's always been the kind of person you can't help but trust. Minato didn't just protect people; he made them feel safe, seen, understood, and he didn't fail in protecting her.
"Hello there," Minato said, his voice barely above a whisper, as if trying not to spook her. He didn't make any sudden movements. Instead, he gave her a gentle, encouraging smile.
With a trembling hand, she pointed to herself, then made the familiar running motion with her hand, and finally, pointed back as if the forest was still behind her. Me. Run. Forest.
Minato's expression softened, but his brows furrowed slightly. Her body tensed, frustration building as she realized Minato didn't understand her. She glanced at Kakashi then, her green eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her body still tense with uncertainty. Help me.
Kakashi, still watching the girl, cleared his throat softly. "She's asking to go back to the forest."
Minato let out a quiet sigh, a deep sadness settling into his features. He knew what the girl was asking—freedom, a return to the only life she knew—but they couldn't just let her go, not yet.
"I wish we could let her go back," Minato said softly, his voice laced with regret. "But it's not that simple." The girl watched him intently, her brows furrowing as she tried to make sense of the words she couldn't understand and turned back to kakashi.
Slowly, Kakashi brought his hand to his chest, signalling me, then pointed to the girl, indicating you. He then made the familiar circle on his open palm—the sign for together—before letting out the familiar sound of safe.
Me. You. Safe. Together.
But the girl didn't respond the way Kakashi had hoped. Instead of calming, she shook her head, her expression growing more frantic. She backed away, mimicking again—me, run, forest—repeating me over and over with more urgency each time.
Kakashi's heart sank. She doesn't trust me anymore.
That realization cut deep. He could see it in her eyes, how she looked at him like he was no different from the others. Just another threat. The bond they had begun to build—fragile as it was—was now shattered.
His mind scrambled for a way to fix it. Think, Kakashi, think! He had nothing left, no more signs, no more gestures she would believe in. Then, his thoughts drifted to his ninken, the way they'd communicate with him, even in the toughest situations. What would they do?
Suddenly Kakashi let out a soft, sad purr—the kind of sound he had heard his ninken make when they were hurt or trying to soothe someone. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't enough, but it was all he had left to offer.
The effect was immediate. The girl froze, mid-gesture, her frantic hands slowly dropping to her sides as her wide, startled eyes locked onto him. She blinked, her breath catching in her throat as if the sound had reached her in a way nothing else had. Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths as she tilted her head ever so slightly.
She could sense his sorrow, the genuine sadness in his attempt to reconnect with her. For a moment, she hesitated, her body tensing as if she might run again. Kakashi's heart ached, but he continued the soft purr, hoping against hope that she would understand. I'm sorry. I didn't protect you the way I should have.
When her wild gaze and posture, softened Kakashi's hands repeated the motions, slower this time, as if trying to convey his sorrow through every movement. Me. You. Safe. Together.
The girl's eyes followed his hands. She hesitated for a moment, then she brought her hand to her chest, to his "Mori?" Her voice was soft, uncertain, as she asked the question. Together in the forest?
Kakashi's heart twisted. He swallowed, his throat tight, and slowly shook his head. With deliberate care, he made the circle on his palm for together. "Sato. Together." His voice was gentle, almost pleading. Together in the village.
The girl stared at him, her lips trembling. "Mori?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kakashi hesitated, he felt utterly helpless. "Sato," he said again softly.
Kakashi watched as the girl's lips wobbled, her whole body trembling with the weight of his answer. Tears gathered in her wide green eyes, glistening under the dim light, threatening to spill over at any moment.
It was Shiba who moved first. The ninken padded up to the girl, his tail wagging gently as he nuzzled her hand with his nose, letting out a soft, comforting whine. He pressed his warm, furry body against her leg, offering his quiet support.
She blinked at the dog, her trembling hand hesitating before she slowly lowered it, resting it gently on his head.