Author's Note: Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews and all those extra follows/favorites! They really made my day, every single one, whenever I checked my email to find more notifications for them. I'm so glad that the second chapter received such praise. Really, I appreciate. This chapter flowed a lot better than I thought it would at first before I hit another block. I think after I hit a few more kinks in the beginning, I can get the rest of the story running along smoother afterward. Hopefully. :)

Answer to last chapter's question: Personally, I think I'd like to live in Uzushiogakure. Before it was destroyed, of course. We don't get to see a lot about it in the series and I'm really curious about it, especially with its close ties to Konoha. You don't see a lot of friendship between nations until Naruto's generation. And the Land of Whirpools is in such proximity to other nations, making travel that much easier. Plus, I think fuinjutsu would be pretty interesting to learn. There just has to be more to it, you know? (Especially if such skill in it would scare other nations to fear Uzushio so much that they'd destroy it. Damn.)

Also: it's an island, meaning beaches (!), and has pretty redheads who could beat me up (!). Now then, on with more awkward interactions between the social butterfly and the anti-social hedgehog!

Curiosity and the Copycat

...a Naruto fanfiction story...

Curiosity and the Copycat © Mx. Irony

Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto

Takara is a Bisexual Badass

chapter three

Path of Life

"It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it."

Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

Dear Tou-san,

Morioka-san and I made it to Konohagakure safe and sound without any problems. Morioka-san was a wonderful travel companion and never once lost his way. And he had plenty of stories to tell to keep us entertained on the long walk. The weather cooperated with us, and we met only the kindest people on the road. Some were rice farmers who were nice to meet because we had so much in common already. The biggest difference is that they need so much more land for their rice fields! If you ever have the chance, I'd talk to a Tachibana Hiroshi about it. He's an old acquaintance of Morioka-san and a good person, kind enough to offer us rooms in his mother-in-law's inn. He also seemed interested in some of Aomori's own fruit orchards. I heard he was planning a visit to Aya some time this fall. I'm sure he would appreciate a warm welcome when he does.

Did you know that the locals actually call the village Konoha for short? It makes talking about it a lot easier. Konohagakure is such a mouthful. It's a large village filled with many streets, some long and narrow and others wide and paved. It's easy to get lost. I'm still trying to find my way around my own neighborhood. There's something different at every corner. I imagine someone could live their whole life here and still stumble on something new. Speaking of new, the buildings are all in excellent condition like they've only recently been built. I don't think I've seen any house or shop any older than I am! The people of Konoha take good care of their village. Every person I meet has so much pride for this place. They all seem more loyal to this one village than the Land of Fire itself.

Speaking of the people, they are also very nice so far. Everyone I've met has only been so helpful and welcoming. They seem rather used to visitors from outside the village which surprises me. Many are far more open than I thought they would be. But as of right now, I haven't met too many people personally. I can list off all the people I know by name on one hand: my landlady Ogino-san, Kamijo-san who I spoke to about my utilities bill, the nice postal worker Hiragi-san, and of course my next door neighbor. There are also the two men guarding the gates but I didn't catch their names...

I think you would like my neighbor just because of his name alone - Hatake Kakashi. Funny, isn't it? Of all the people I could have had for a neighbor, it's a man with name like that. I met him when I was moving things into my new apartment. Despite just getting back from a mission, he stopped to help me move some boxes and furniture up those flights of stairs. Very kind man, Hatake-san. I think you might like him for himself, too. He's a little odd, I'll admit: I've never seen him without a mask, he keeps strange hours, and he's always reading this strange little orange-covered book of his. Have you ever heard of Icha Icha Paradise, Tou-san? I can't seem to find it at the bookstore and the cashier had the strangest look on his face when I asked if they had it. Something about not having "those kind of books." Ah, well. Maybe it's a really old book that's no longer published?

Anyway, yes, Hatake-san is strange and maybe more elusive than that book of his (two bookstores, nothing!) but he's been nothing but nice so far. And I won't judge a book by its cover. (Get it?)

Konoha has been good to me. It's a beautiful place, Tou-san. I think you'd especially like the faces carved into the mountain for the entire village to see. I can't see them from my apartment window but everywhere else, I only have to look up and there they are. I heard there was a trail leading up to it and I want to hike it soon, if I could only just find it… Maybe someday you could even come visit and hike it with me after I get settled in. I've been looking for a job, turned in some applications. I hope to hear back from one shop close by. But I should find something soon. Right now, I'm getting used to Konoha - starting with finding my way around! - and learning as much as I can.

I hope this letter - and Morioka-san - reaches you safely and finds you in good health. Give the boys all of my love and take care of yourself. I'll write again soon. The next letter will be sent through the post office, so we'll so how quickly that'll get to you.

Love,

Kara

P.S. Please don't forget to turn off the stove after the kettle's boiled. We don't want a repeat of last time.

"Why, if isn't Kakashi!" a deep, jovial voice called. Gai appeared in a blur of green beside him, grinning.

Of course. As soon as his new neighbor started to quiet down, Gai would deign to show up. Kakashi briefly looked up from his book, a small signal of acknowledgement, and continued on with his reading.

Naturally, Gai did not get the hint. "It is most wonderful to see you again, dearest rival!"

"Gai," the masked ninja said by way of greeting, barely glancing at his fellow jounin.

"It's been quite some time, my eternal rival. Too long since our last match! Let us succumb to our youth and have ourselves a heated battle!" He quickly went into a battle pose, prepared to take on the legendary ninja. "If you win, I will do five hundred jumping jacks on the edge of a bridge!"

Kakashi did not particularly care to "succumb" to anything with Maito Gai. Ever. He continued walking and passed by the over eager man, dismissing the offer. "No, thanks."

The blunt rejection did nothing to deter Gai, used to it as he was. If he gave up so easily, he would not have been worthy a rival of Hatake Kakashi. Gai persisted, "One thousand jumping jacks!"

"Not today, Gai."

"The springtime of our youth is upon us! We must take full of advantage of it and push ourselves forward with more challenges. Hatake Kakashi, I challenge you - "

"No."

The genjutsu sunrise behind Gai evaporated. His wide grin faded but only slightly; he instantly brightened it to full vibrancy. Following after Kakashi, Gai easily caught up and kept pace with his long legs.

"And how was the mission?" the green ninja asked. His dark eyes sent Kakashi a discreet, searching glance. He did not seem too worse for wear; there were no significant physical injuries to be seen. But it was not the bodily afflictions that Gai worried about when it came to his friend.

Kakashi paused. He looked at Gai indifferently. "You know I can't talk about it."

Eye contact was good, however brief, but Kakashi dark eye was still far too cold.

"Well, then! Let us reacquaint ourselves, rival. Care to join Asuma, Kurenai, and myself for some dango?" Gai suggested, hands on hip. His teeth flashed. "Kurenai herself has just arrived back after a successful mission and we wanted to celebrate! It's been some time since all last got together."

"I already have plans with somebody."

"Really?" Gai perked up, leaning forward. "Who?"

Kakashi gave Gai a look.

"..." Gai's smile slid off his face, hardening into a grim line. His voice quieted: "Say hello for me."

He didn't pester Kakashi further and instead watched him leave, left behind once again. Still, Gai promised himself that he would continue to keep a careful eye on his eternal rival and dear friend.

"Thank you again, Morioka-san. For everything." Takara bowed.

The old man waved a hand. "Ah, Hina-san. It was nothing. Truly. You were a right pleasant company on the road."

"Thank you. You as well."

"Aah, no. Thank you."

As the two oblivious civilians talked, the two ninja at the gate's desk watched them.

"They've been telling each other 'thank you' for ten minutes," Kotetsu muttered to his partner.

"It hasn't been that long," Izumo said.

He showed Izumo his watch.

"How far off is the next village?" Takara asked.

"Not too far. It'll only take me 'bout a half a day, ten miles yonder. Then I'll be headin' back home. Nobuyuki-san will have your letter next week, swear it!"

"Thank you!"

Kotetsu slid a small slip of paper in front of Izumo. It was almost completely filled with tally marks.

"If ya don't mind, Hina-san, a hug 'fore we part?"

She blinked, then quickly smiled. Takara spread her arms open wide. "Of course!"

Morioka shuffled forward, wrapping his wiry arms around her as if she were his own granddaughter. His breath smelled like cherry pipe tabacco and their morning coffee. "Be careful. They're nice enough people, really, but don't forget what they make their living off of."

Takara pulled away, broadening her smile to show teeth. "Get home safely, Morioka-san!"

Laughing, Morioka squeezed her shoulders one last time - hard - and stepped back. "You're a smart little lady, Hina-san. I can't wait to see what where the path of life takes you."

Her face softened. Quieter, she said, "Thank you, Morioka-san."

"Thirty-eight," Kotetsu muttered, scratching down another tally. Izumo promptly elbowed him.

"Take care, Hina-san. Keep me posted." Morioka-san winked, hefting the cart behind him. "I'll see ya next time 'round."

"You will," she promised. Putting her hands on her hips, Takara said, "Stay out of trouble now."

Morioka gave a bark of a laugh. "I'll save it for when I'm with you."

Takara couldn't help her chuckle. She waved. "Good-bye, Morioka-san."

"Bye, Hina-san." Morioka bid the girl a final short wave, wiggling his fingers, and gave her another affectionate grin which furrowed the wrinkles in his face further. His hands latched on the cart and with a grunt, he heaved it upward so it rolled behind him.

Good luck, Hinamori-san. Morioka did not turn back once but looking at the sky, he sent a silent prayer.

Takara remained at the gate, watching the old man leave. The further away he went, the more her smile diminished. She stayed until he was a small speck on the horizon and then gone from sight entirely. And she was alone.

"...what's up with her?" Kotetsu whispered to his friend, leaning in.

Izumo frowned. "Maybe she's - "

"Good afternoon!"

Both men jerked to attention, staring wide-eyed at the chipper woman where she suddenly stood right in front of the desk. Hands still on her hips, Takara tilted her head towards them in friendly greeting.

"Nice day we're having, isn't it?"

"Uh…." Kotetsu cleared his throat. "Um, yes. Nice. Very nice."

Izumo's mouth twisted into an awkward smile. "Good morning to you, too, Hinamori-san. How have you settled in?"

Dear god, she's beaming at us, Kotetsu thought. He couldn't understand how someone switched from one face to another so quickly.

"Well enough, I suppose. I'm still learning my way around to be honest but thank you for asking."

Izumo discreetly slapped Kotetsu's hand when he made a subtle reach for the pencil. "I'm glad to hear that. I hope everything works out."

"Aha, that makes two of us." Takara ducked her head. "And how are you today? No trouble, I hope?"

"No, not today. It's been a little slow."

"That's not so bad, is it? That means everyone else doesn't have anything to worry about."

Kotetsu muttered under his breath but immediately fell silent when her eyes flashed to him. This close, he saw for the first time how green they really were. There was a striking quality about those eyes that pinned him down, making him feel as though she weren't merely looking at him but straight into him.

"Hagane-san, yes?"

"...yeah?"

"Thank you so much for the other day. You and Kamizuki-san both. I appreciate all the work you're doing."

This time, Kotetsu didn't so much as glance at the pencil. Something about Hinamori's straightforward, unblinking stare made him feel like a kid back at the Academy again despite her smile. He coughed. "Um, you're welcome."

Izumo covered his mouth with a hand, hiding a smirk.

Another sweet smile, one that made her eyes curve into crescents and took the weight of her sharp eyes off of him. "Well, enjoy the rest of your day, sir."

Giving a polite nod to Izumo beforehand, Takara took her leave. Her ponytail bounced behind her as she walked back to the village.

"Did she just call me sir?" Kotetsu said incredulously as soon as she was out of earshot. "And how did she even know our family names?"

"She must have gotten them from the old merchant," Izumo inferred. The older man always left the village before nightfall so he would stay at the inn of another nearby village, passing by security multiple times in a day. Each time, he would stop and chat with whoever was on guard duty - friendly, polite, but cautious all the same.

Kotetsu shook his head, frowning. After a moment of thought, he said slowly, "She was polite the whole time but it felt like she was calling me out over something."

"I can't imagine why," Izumo said dryly.

Kotetsu glowered.

His partner shrugged. "She's from Aomori prefecture - far up north, right on the border."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"I did a month long mission up there about a year ago," Izumo explained. "People there have a unique way of being very polite on the surface while simultaneously telling someone off."

The black-haired man sat with that a moment, considering. "...so, basically she just told me to go fuck myself."

"Basically."

Kneeling in the grass, Kakashi removed the sprouting weeds he found. His sleeves were pushed past his pale elbows. Dipping a gloveless hand into the wooden bucket next to him, Kakashi pulled out the soaking rag and wrung it with a strong twist. He swiped it across the carved granite and cleaned off the thin layer of dirt, polishing it to a gleam. He considered the fading lilies for a moment which he left only the day before his last mission out of the village. Kakashi gently plucked them from the built-in holders to replace them with the fresh flowers he bought earlier that day.

There was barely any presence of chakra to sense but Kakashi heard the footsteps long before they neared him. Having lived in close proximity of this presence for almost two weeks now, he recognized the warm, earthy scent with its layer of soap and starch.

"Hatake-san?"

She blinked once, twice. Hinamori glanced at the small bucket of now dirty water next to him, the gathered weeds, the slightly faded lilies. She looked from Kakashi on the ground to the tiny headstone.

Processing just what she had walked in on, Hinamori paled. "Oh."

She bowed her head. "Excuse me. I didn't mean to intrude -"

"Don't worry about it," Kakashi cut her off. He abruptly stood up and reached for the wooden buckets.

"Let me help you with those."

He practically snatched them from the ground.

Hinamori recoiled, pulling her hands away, and straightened up. "You don't have to leave. I'll go," she said, shuffling backwards.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was taking a walk."

"In a cemetery." There was no missing the hard edge in his voice.

"I...I guess you could say I got lost on the path of life?" Takara chuckled feebly at her own private joke. Seeing his lack of response, she looked at the ground and - seeing the headstone as if to remind her exactly where she was - winced. Takara could have kicked herself.

Hatake said nothing. She felt very small under his intense stare, far more direct than she'd seen it yet. Takara wasn't sure if Hatake had ever really looked at her before this.

What made it worse by his lack of reaction. She couldn't tell what was running through his head.

How can I tell what's running through his head? Takara thought frantically. The mask covered his entire face barring a single eye, blocking important facial cues, and it left her floundering for insight into what he was thinking and how to respond. Half the time, she could not tell if he was actually tired or bored or just intensely passive aggressive.

Not that she blamed him, not now. Especially not under these circumstances.

Her eyes darted away from his cool gaze and naturally fell down to his hands. Takara had not seen Hatake with his arms bare since waking him up after first meeting. In the direct sunlight, she saw the faint scars crisscrossing across his forearms and into the crease of his elbows where his rolled sleeves started. He carried the buckets in one hand and a bruised bunch of lilies in the other.

Teppōyuri. Takara's brows knitted together.

The lilies disappeared from her gaze. She found herself watching Hatake's back retreating.

Takara snapped out of her daze. "Huh? Hatake-san - hey, Hatake-san, wait!"

Sparing a final glance at the headstone, Takara skittered after him.

Nohara Rin...

She was young. She was naive. She was a civilian from a tiny farm far away from Konoha.

This is what Kakashi reminded himself.

She was also incredibly annoying.

"I'm sorry."

And she was excessively apologizing. Again.

"I didn't mean to intrude on such a personal moment or invade your privacy like that. Really, I didn't. I was just out exploring - gettin' to know the village and all that. Then I came across a fence, took a turn, and then another fence. And somehow I just wound up here. Honest."

They had long since left the Leaf Shinobi Cemetery: buckets dumped of their cold water, old lilies thrown away, and a civilian tailing him. Already a couple of blocks away, Hinamori had yet to lose steam.

"It wasn't like I was following you or anything, I swear."

"Isn't that what you're doing right now?"

"Um, uh…" Hinamori audibly flustered. "Uh, no. I'm just happening to go the same way you're going."

Kakashi stopped. He felt the impact against his back when Hinamori stumbled into him. The copy nin looked over his shoulder flatly to find Hinamori's face a bright red - not unlike the apples she delivered as apology awhile ago.

"You don't know where I'm going," he said bluntly.

"...nooo."

"Where are you going?"

"...uuh, I don't really know honestly."

"You're lost, aren't you."

Hinamori bowed her head. "Yes."

He sweatdropped.

"But that isn't why I followed you! Uh, out of the cemetery, not into it. As if I could actually find you. Or my apartment…" Hinamori mumbled. She blurted, "I am sorry, though. Honest. And I know it annoys you when I keep saying that which I can get 'cause I do tend to ramble on a bit. It drives my older brother up the wall, let me tell ya, so you're not alone there. At all, trust me. But I really do feel bad about it and want to give you your space 'cause I know that if someone walked in on me at my - a relative's grave, I'd feel violated and upset and offended and I'm sorry. But I'm also really, really lost and have been all morning and I know this might be selfish and rude of me but could you please, please, please help me?"

He stared at her.

There was a long period of silence between them. Takara secretly wondered if she had broken him with that verbal overload.

"Aho, aho, aho!" A crow flew by.

"Please?"

It was the helpless puppy eyes that did him in.

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his head. This girl.

"Sure."

"Thank you, Hatake-san!" was the beginning of another barrage of her endless gratitude.

He knew that he really should stop comparing the naive, nosy civilian to small animals but Kakashi could not help picturing a lost a puppy scampering behind him, practically tripping over its own ears, following him all the way home no matter how much he tried to discourage it.

Hinamori had only partially opened the door to her apartment when Kakashi spoke, "You didn't lock your door."

The girl paused, blinking at him. She quickly looked away, scratching her face, and mumbled, "I forgot."

Kakashi said nothing. Hands in pockets, he stared at Hinamori with an unreadable expression in his eye.

"I know, I know. It's bad. I just keep forgetting. We just never really locked doors back...back where I'm from. There just wasn't a need to, you know?" The longer he stared, saying nothing, the more she talked. "I mean, we were out in the middle of nowhere. Well, not nowhere, but pretty far off from other places. At least a couple of miles. Sometimes, when the weather was really nice like today, we'd just leave all the doors and windows wide open so we'd get a nice breeze at night."

"I wouldn't recommend that here," Kakashi suggested, mildly sarcastic.

"No! No, of course not. That would just be askin' for a robbery, not that anyone would ask for it or anything. Only like leaving your - "

"Door unlocked?" he suggested.

"I was going to say leaving your bag unattended but...yeah, that too," Hinamori said, voice quiet. She cleared her throat, looking at anywhere but at her neighbor or the traitorous doorknob for that matter.

"I'd remember next time," Kakashi said as he opened his own door. The last thing he wanted was anything to happen to the naive civilian girl, knowing he would have to intervene if there was any trouble next door. She would not last long on her own if she didn't wise up and fast.

"Hatake-san?"

Kakashi's half-lidded eye glanced up.

"That time I woke you up after we first met…You weren't really back from a month long mission, were you?"

His eye visibly widened.

Hinamori smirked slightly over her shoulder, though it wasn't unkind. "I'll see you later, Hatake-san. Good night."

Punctuating her statement was the distinct sound of a lock from inside her apartment. Then Kakashi was alone in the quiet hallway.

Dear Tou-san,

Hatake-san really is a nice person who helps people when they need it - almost without exception from what I've seen so far and experienced first hand. I can tell he has good intentions. He really isn't a bad sort of person at all, really, but...

He's also kind of a jerk.

Author's Note: Welp, there you go. You guys got a glimpse of another side of Takara here. She doesn't show it very often and when she does, people are more likely to miss it if it's not directed at them. I know that a lot of you like how sweet and earnest she is (which is still a very real and valid part of her) but I hope you also appreciate the lowkey bite she has in this chapter. The remark at the end there, though, I think wasn't so much a direct jab and more of a pointed "I'm not stupid" to Kakashi who clearly doesn't take her seriously.

And yes, in about a year or so, Kakashi does steal Takara's "path of life" joke and misuses it as an excuse.

Thanks for answering the chapter questions; it's really fun reading your thoughts and just getting to know you guys a little. This chapter's question: How do you think shinobi are perceived by civilians outside of hidden villages in canon? Awe, admiration, respect, morbid curiosity? Or fear? And also, how do you think you would feel about them personally if you somehow crossed universes and experienced life as a civilian in the Naruto world?