#his parental instinct extends to the other ninja as well

[crispyjeans]

So, I had a dumb au idea:

The AU is basically: Morro gets adopted by the Smiths (instead of dying)

When their parents disappear, Morro is the one to raise Kai and Nya. It's easier for him than it would've been for Kai, because Morro's a full grown adult with a stable job.

When the events of the pilot happen, he's the one who gets taken because he's not going to let his siblings get hurt, and he accidentally befriends Garmadon, who asks him to take care of Lloyd.

He adopts Harumi after the Great Devourer incident (it's a coping mechanism for accidentally letting her parents die 😔)

I'm working on a fic for this au right now (not posted yet) but here's some silly doodles:

The last one is when they're on the Dark Island (Morro gets 'captured' instead of Misako)

Garmadon blushes a golden color because that's the color of his blood :)

[the-tiniest-one]

Parenting Rock Lee with Might Guy :)

Note:@xemaliahrssx here ya go! I hope it tastes just like you dreamed it would!

Sitting at the kitchen table, watching Guy and Lee devour the dinner you made, had you feeling nostalgic... You watched with your head rested on your hand. It was the little family moments that you appreciated more than anything else these days. "Yeah! and then I caught him in a cross block!" Lee said, describing their latest mission, his mouth full of food.

"Haha yes yes (y/n) you should have been there, our Rock Lee is becoming a real force to be reckoned with, much like his handsome sensei" Guy said with a wink in your direction.

"Handsome indeed" you said with a grin.

Thinking back to the days when you were a little more of a workaholic made you laugh. If you told your younger-self all those years ago that you would be Konoha's worst helicopter parent in just a few years, you'd have never believed it. Guy was a perfect match for you in that regard. You two were a well oiled machine when it came to parenting.

While Lee could do no wrong in your eyes, Guy was a bit heavy handed in his discipline of Lee's skills as a shinobi. You kissed every bruise and scrape, while Guy was teaching him how to prevent them in the first place.

Rock Lee has had more than his fair share of the short-end-of-the- shit-stick his entire life. BUT One could be forgiven for not recognizing the true level of hardship the boy has overcome in his short tenure as a shinobi. Lee is a true underdog.

Lucky for him, you've always been a bit of a sucker for an underdog.

You thought back to those early days......

Even before Lee evolved to a mini version of your childhood crush, you felt the need to protect him. Watching him fumble and practice jutsu in vain day after day.....early in the morning and into the night. You would watch him from a distance while training your own team. One early morning, you decided to check in on the boy with long black hair. He kicked at a post, counting off as you looked on...10....11.....12.....his kicks were weak even for his young age. As he got closer to 50 he fell back, overwhelmed by the pain of repetitively beating his shins into the wood without chakra to safeguard his bones.

Clearly angry at his situation, the thought occurred to you that maybe he wasn't using chakra because he couldn't....the boy had tears streaming from his eyes. It broke your heart to watch a kid who couldn't be more than 10, cursing his life.

"A kid working that hard shouldn't have to feel that defeated..." you said to yourself.

You felt conflicted. Torn between wanting to step in and takeover his training...but feeling the weight of responsibility that would come with encouraging a child to chase a pipedream that would only lead to disappointment. You knew all too well what happens to weak ninja. The reality was that it would be cruel to encourage the boy to peruse a life as dangerous as that of a shinobi. You were no slouch when it came to taijutsu but ninjas are able to compete with one another because of the advantages that come with developing kakai genki.

Could a boy with no use of chakra stand a chance against the generations of those families of ninja who use fearsome jutsu and tactics like lightning...wind....wood or even hereditary gifts like the dreaded sharingan or byakugen? The real answer was sad and harsh. No. He couldn't.

You wouldn't be so irresponsible as to tell the boy he could be anything but a failure.

If he perused that path, he would die young.

So you stood back, restraining the desire to comfort and nurture the little boy out of what you told yourself was mercy. Day after day, week after week....you watched on....until it became too much. You couldn't sleep anymore, couldn't function on missions the same way. Always thinking back to him still out at those training grounds.....always struggling.

....

One morning it was pouring rain. You called off training that day for your team and headed out to the place you knew he would be. He was there of course. He was doing his best to catch a cold while practicing hand signs to no avail. After watching him for a few minutes you finally asked, "What's your name kid?" speaking loud to project over the rain. Startled he looked up to where you stood, perched on a post a few feat away. "I...Im Rock Lee" he said timidly. You laughed at his shy but sweet face, "Im y/n" you said.

"Your kicks look like they could use some work", holding your palm about chest high, to show him where his blow should be landing. The boy grimaced...clearly angry with his lack of direction in training. You laughed and the both of you worked on his kicks for the duration of the morning.

"I think you'll be a splendid ninja someday" you said as you offered him a bit of lunch you packed. The boy looked up at you with the most heartbreaking fear in his eyes, "I can't use chakra" Lee said barley above a whisper, clearly ashamed to tell you the truth.

You ruffled his hair. "Look kid, life is shitty sometimes. But I can tell you are someone who will never quit. No matter the odds, and that is something worth more than all the talent in the world." He instantly smiled up at you, melting your heart for what would be the first of a million times. Laughing and showing you also first time you saw that shiny smile that you would come to love more that anything on earth.

From then on he was your responsibility. Your chest burned with pride in his concrete determination. Feeling instantly the protective burn and feral instinct to insulate him from anything that would hurt him.

....

It was about a year later when things evolved. You and Lee had become close. He, being an orphan as you found out he was, had taken your invitation to live in your spare bedroom. It wasn't long before you were nagging him to be sure and eat breakfast before class, take baths every night. You were often hearing your mothers voice echo in your own as you guided the child to a structure he lacked.

You even went to his parent meetings at the Academy, much to the surprise of Iruka (because he himself was 2 years older than you and had known you since you were smol) laughed when you asked to see Lee's reports.

----

Then one hot summer day you got the order... your team was dispatched on your first extended mission with your new genin. 3 months on a C rank mission to Suna. Your heart sank as you remembered Lee's graduation exam was in just a few days. Before you left, you kissed his forehead and promised a tearful Lee who had become just as attached as you over the last year, that would bring him back a graduation present.

You just knew he would finally pass.

....

Returning to the village near midnight you couldn't wait to see Lee. After giving report to Lord Third, you quickly made your way home. Quietly cracking the door to his bedroom, you peaked in to see his sweet little face. The snoring boy looked peaceful.

"He cut his hair?" you thought puzzled..."he must have done it himself, it looks a little odd." You laughed at the thought of him using a bowl to cut his hair.

Then your eyes traveled to the headband still around his forehead, "He passed!!!" you quietly celebrated, careful not to wake him up. You placed the promised gift on his dresser, a brand-new set of num-chuks you'd had made in Suna.

The next morning you were up before sunrise making a celebratory breakfast when an extreme round of knocking came from the apartment's front door.

You quickly answered, immediately flustered when on the other side was none other than Might Guy....the same Guy you'd had the hots for over a decade.

"Y/N!, I must have the wrong address! I was looking for one of my students!" Guy said in his familiar boisterous cadence. Laughing nervously you started to respond, when behind you Lee pushed his way through the doorframe. Your eyes widened at the sight.

The haircut made sense now, Lee stood side by side with his sensei. He was wearing Guy's jumpsuit... they could have been father and son.

Looking at the two of them standing side by side in front of you for the first time gave you the most jarring sense of dejavu.

"Guy sensei! Look what Y/N brought me from her most dangerous mission!" Lee brandished the weapon, beaming up at his teacher who laughed and winked in your direction. "Ah, a great choice! Only the most skilled ninja know how to use such a fine weapon! We must enlighten you at once Lee my boy!" With that the handsome jonin and your sweet Rock Lee were off to train.

You had known Guy since he was still struggling to gain entrance to the Academy, you knew that the man who radiated confidence today, only earned that ability through blood, sweat, and tears.

You apprehensively accepted that Might Guy was a good match to be Lee's sensei.

"Be careful!" you called, more than a little apprehensive at the thought of your sweet baby boy training with such an admittedly impulsive man. Feeling a small tug of sadness as you watched the two of them disappear down the street.

"Lee's getting tall..." you though as you closed the door.

....

Over the next few years Lee had grown into a strong young man. You felt such extreme pride in everything he did. Even though you being in your mid-twenties were not nearly old enough to be Lee's mother, he had taken to occasionally calling you mom.

Lee was never embarrassed of you as he grew into a teen like some of the other kids his age. He was always just as willing to give you a hug before a mission as the day you met him.

It would be a lie to say that the relationship you and Guy shared hadn't also matured along the way. Although you weren't Lee's biological parents, anyone would be forgiven for thinking that you were. Everything you had admired about Guy, his hot-bloodedness, his devotion to youthful perseverance, his love of his village had been passed down to your surrogate son.

It was only natural that you and Guy would become a team in raising Rock Lee. Over time after a few years of dinners, training sessions, birthdays, holidays etc...Guy decided to propose to you.

It was a literal dream come true. You couldn't say yes fast enough. But as required when two shinobi become married, when you went to sign the paperwork to make your marriage official, requesting a stamp of approval from Lady Tsunade....she extended to you a folder with a second set of forms.

Guy beamed as you read the contents. Adoption papers with Lee's name printed at the top in bold.

"He will always be our son. Since we are making it official... why not add one more?" Guy said with a laugh. The tears began welling in your eyes. "He's 17" you laughed, "I love you" is all you could think to say in response to the most kind gesture you have ever witnessed.

Guy held his trademark thumbs up high as he replied, "Lee will always need his mom, no matter how big he gets!" His words like music to your heart...

You'd never felt so complete as you walked hand in hand with Guy, on your way home to surprise your sweet son with the news.

Upon telling Lee what the two of you had done, he looked from the papers back to you. Confusion spread across the sweet ravenette's features. "But I do not understand" Lee said with a hand rubbing the back of his neck. "Have you not always been my mom?"

The innocent look in his eye and profound sincerity in his voice made tears well in your eyes for what felt like the tenth time that day. You laughed and swept he and Guy into a hug that didn't last long enough. "What's for dinner?" the two men asked in unison and in that moment you knew you were the luckiest person in the world.

[daraanna]

Baby steps

He was standing over a crib made of a basket and a pillow. It's been 3 days since his daughter appeared in the world. A little human being no bigger than his forearm, with black hair and eyes, and a broad forehead. After more than twenty years of life, Sasuke thought that he knew everything about love. He remembered the love that he have for his parents and how, through pain, it turned into hate. At that time, he thought that there was no escape from this state. After Itachi's death, he completely lost himself in the darkest depths of his soul. However, he was saved by his new family. He found a new bond, similar to a parental relationship with his sensei, a brotherly relationship with Naruto, but while travelling with Sakura, he discovered a completely new kind of love, combining trust, respect and friendship with passions that he had never paid attention to before. This love was built on a deep mutual understanding, after spending a year together they understood each other without words, both in combat and in their daily journeys. Despite this, standing over his daughter's crib, he knew that, if at all possible, he loved her even more. He was beginning to understand why Itachi had sacrificed everything to protect him. He knew he would do the same for her. Sarada was completely defenceless dependent on the care of her parents. He was sure that Sakura would be able to provide her with everything she needed. But as for himself ... For the first time in his life, he didn't know what to do. Being a genius and a stubborn person, he easily found solutions to problems. If something required more work from him, using the method of trial and error, he always made his way to achieve  the goal. However, this was not the method he could apply in this case. There is no place for experiments. In the end he was even afraid to touch her without the supervision of his wife. He was afraid that he would hurt her as he did his new family-team 7.

So all he did, was stand and watch her tiny chest rise and fall with each breath she take. This calm rhythm was disturbed as the infant made a quick motion with its tiny limbs, then opened its eyes and let out a loud scream. Before he had time to react, Sakura had already picked up the little one and soon she started to feed her. Sasuke stood still in place watching his family. He felt useless. Pink-haired, despite the fact that she still did not regain her full strength after giving birth, was able to look after their baby. Even Karin changed Sarada’s diaper several times when his wife was not around.

It wasn't long before the green irises caught his gaze.

"Anata?" She asked, looking at him knowing that something is bothering him. He knew from experience that there was little point in denial.

He was silent for a moment, and then he let out a sigh.

“I don't have it ...” he replied, but seeing Sakura's confused face he added  ”Parental instinct ... Father instinct? I don't know what to do, I can't take care of her like you do...”

He admitted embarrassed, and his wife's reaction definitely not helped, she start laughing. It was the last thing he expected, and he felt annoyed.

“Sasuke-kun” pink-haired started as soon as she managed to calm down ”You really think that my behaviour is due to the maternal instinct?”

He didn’t say a thing.

“Anata, I'm a medical ninja. I was literally trained to take care of infants, so did Karin...” she replied looking him straight in the eyes. Even though he saw the sincerity in her gaze, her words did not completely convince him.

"To be honest, I also panicked at the beginning," she sighed seeing his reaction. It's natural, most parents don't know how to care for a newborn baby at first, theory and practice are two different things, she finished smiling and pointing to him on the place on the bed next to her. When he sat down she put Sarada between them.

“Babies are not as delicate as they look ... Believe me, you won't hurt her if you are careful and remember a few rules. It may be harder with one hand but it is not impossible ...”

Hearing that, Sasuka felt relieved. Even though he wasn't sure of his own abilities, he definitely trusted his wife. By listening carefully and observing (also with the Sharingan), he learned to care for their child.

.................................................. ....

Within two weeks, the moment came when he was left alone to take care of their child. Sakura and Karin travelled to the nearest city to buy vaccines for Sarada. This journey with a child would take too long. He also couldn’t go, because there was the necessary knowledge and medic licence to buy them. The first 3 hours passed calmly. The milk bottles his wife left for them should be enough if he didn't, they have formula as well. Sarada cooperated by sleeping most of the time. The problem started as usual, with a scream. Sasuke quickly found himself at the crib, it took a little longer to find the reason for her crying. Her diaper had to be changed. It was an activity that the head of the Uchiha family had never done before. At least not alone. The lack of one hand effectively prevented him from mastering this art so far, and he did not want to use a susano, whose bony hands were definitely not suitable for caring for a child. The baby's crying continued, and he couldn’t wait for Sakura's return. As carefully as he could, he put her on the changing table and unbuttoned the diaper. The contents were frighteningly large, it was hard to imagine that such a small creature could produce so much of... The mission of changing a diaper was not easy. It took over 20 minutes, cost him three packets of wipes, two clean diaper and a litter of water. Nevertheless, he was proud of the end result. Sarada on the other hand was not impressed, she already fell asleep.

.....................................................

Three months passed before they made the decision to return to Konoha. Travelling with an infant turned out to be even more difficult than travelling with a pregnant woman. They both agreed that sleeping outside should be kept to a minimum. However, it was not easy to determine the route home so that you could find accommodation at the inn every day. In addition, it extended their path almost three times. When they got here looking for help, he had not expected that they would be able to stay here for so long. However, Karin convinced them that she did not mind their presence. They occupied only one room in the huge empty facility which she had to take care of. In addition, Uzumaki had a clear weakness for their daughter. Sarada took his place as an object of her adoration. Not that he complained about it. The little one also liked to play with Karin. Especially she liked her glasses and hair. However, as Uchiha she did not like excessive affection.

Now he was sitting and watching the former Taka member walk down the corridor, cradling baby to her cheek.

"You're so cute, you have such a clear and tiny chakra, uhhhh you're so sweet I could eat you!" But despite the fact that his daughter had a much greater tolerance to cuddles than he did. It was her patience that had its limits as well. Which have now been exceeded. The baby moved its limbs vigorously before a loud roar came out of her small lungs.

Karin was devastated.

Sasuke just sighed before he went to save his firstborn. As soon as he took her in his arm, the crying ceased. Sarada looked at him with those large black eyes curiously. Her little body, still agitated by the hiccups after crying, slowly relaxed as one of her fists clung to his shirt.

“Hn. She doesn't like being squishing” he replied.

Uzumaki blushed slightly ashamed.

At this point, Sakura ran into the room.

"What happened?" She asked, looking at their daughter.

"She get little irritated" he replied. Hearing her mother's voice, little Uchiha smiled, only to burst out laughing moments later when the pink-haired kissed her forehead. However, as soon as he tried to hand Sarada over to her, the little one made a dissatisfied sound, clenching even tighter the fist she was holding on to him. Her attention turned to him once again. Despite the fact that she undoubtedly inherited her facial features from Sakura, the face with which she looked at him was a pout typical of the Uchiha. He couldn't help but smile. Seeing this, baby giggled again.

“Uh, the three of you are disgustingly cute, “Uzumaki sighed, reminding me of her presence.

Sakura only replied with a laugh  “I just finished packing tomorrow we can go ...”

..........................................

The farewell turned out to be much longer than he expected. During the three mouths they spent together, Sakura and Karin became friends and exchanged thousands of studies related to medical ninjutsu, as well as managed to grow a new plant with a combination of two popular species used in the production of chakra tablets. Of course, they left the exchange of contact data for the last moment. At some point they became too emotional when Uzumaki burst into tears and then his wife joined her. He was starting to lose patience. He looked at Sarada who was sleeping in the sling that acted as her baby carrier, didn’t care at all about what was happening around.

He sighed looking at the red glass frames held by the infant. As soon as they reach the city, they have to buy her some real toys... Although of all the things that were in the hideout, the glasses seemed the least harmless. Not to mention the fact that taking them from an infant was almost impossible. He could only be grateful that Karin decided to give up her spare pair of glasses. As well as everything else she had done for his family in those three months.

“You also take care of yourself and, most of all, look after them” she added at the end, when she finished saying goodbye to his wife.

“Hn” replied correcting the position of the child in his arms ”Thank you ... For everything you have done for us” he added, making Uzumaki temporarily stunned.

“Uh, I owe my life to Sakura-chan after all. It's nothing special that I helped you ... Well, it doesn't matter, you have to go, otherwise you won't reach the inn before dark. Bye” she replied, returning to the hideout.

"Bye” replied pink-haired waved goodbye “Ready to go?" she asked smiling at him and the sleeping baby.

“Hn.”

........................................................................................................

Oops, I did it again I made Sasuke too OOC, got lost in the fanfic Oh baby, baby Oops, you think that I can write Maybe It will be better next time I'm not that talented XD 

[sambergscott]

i've been down here before and i know the way out

Summary: Leo Peralta is named after all the greats - the Ninja Turtle, da Vinci, DiCaprio and McGarry. 

(someone asked me to write about the name leo for jake and amy’s baby paying homage to leo mcgarry from the west wing and since i've officially joined Team Leo, i figured i'd do this)

(the title has nothing to do with the fic, it’s just my favourite leo/josh quote and i *had* to use it) 

It’s a weird feeling, leaving his son for the first time. Sure, he’s only going down the hall to get some much-needed coffee and snacks and he’s in Amy’s more-than-capable hands, but he already feels like he’s missing out on so much. What if he opens his eyes? What if he latches for the first time? What if he says his first word? No, that would be crazy. 5 hour old babies can’t talk, not even when they inherit super smart Santiago genes. 

The point is: Leo is the coolest person he’s ever met, named after Leonardo from the Ninja Turtles (or if you ask Amy, some painter from the olden days), and leaving him, even if only for a few minutes, sucks.

He didn’t understand how any of the other Peralta dads could walk out on their sons before and he certainly doesn’t understand it now.

He could never abandon Leo.

Speaking of Peralta dads who abandoned their sons, he instantly recognizes the white hair and crumpled pilot uniform of the man at the coffee machine as his own father and braces himself for the least fun conversation of the day (even worse than a laboring Amy threatening to kill him if he tells her how to breathe one more time).

“Hey, grandpa,” he says, patting Roger on the back.

“Jakey!” He exclaims. “Congratulations, son.”

He’s received a lot of congratulations in the last few hours. From his mom, Amy’s parents, Amy’s brothers, the Nine-Nine, their extended families. Every time he picks up his phone to take a picture of the baby or Amy and the baby or a selfie of all three of them, there’s another 5 comments on his Instagram post about their new recruit. It’s all kind of overwhelming and he hasn’t got back to everyone yet (he knows Amy will want to send handwritten thank you cards anyway), but he has read the comments out loud to Amy and told Leo how loved he already is.

(It’s something Jake didn’t really know as a kid and he vows to raise his son differently, to tell him everyday that his mom and dad love him so much).

Captain Holt’s congratulations in particular brought tears to Jake, Amy and Leo’s eyes. To be fair, Leo was crying because he needed a diaper change, but still. It’s like he knew.

Ray Holt (Received 22:07):

Dear Amy, Jake and Leo (who Gina informs me is named after the ‘smokeshow’ actor Leonardo DiCaprio? According to the Internet Movie Database, he was in something called The Wolf of Wall Street and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, although I have only seen the stage productions of the latter so cannot comment on his suitability as a name sake for your child),

Kevin, Cheddar and I would like to offer our congratulations on the birth of your first son. As newborns go, yours is very cute. We hope the labor went smoothly and that you are all enjoying this precious time as a family.

We understand it is customary to buy a stuffed animal for a newborn baby and since we could not agree on a lion (as his name is Leo) or a Corgi (as we have a Corgi called Cheddar), we decided to buy both. We hope you will have sufficient room to store both in your apartment. If not, we have kept the receipts on our person and will return your least favourite to the store.

We look forward to meeting the newest member of our Nine-Nine family and giving him his gifts. Please provide us with an appropriate time slot for visitation.  

I am very proud of you both. I know you will make excellent parents.

Sincerely,

Raymond Holt, Kevin Cozner PhD and Cheddar the Dog.

His dad’s two word congratulations pales in comparison to his Work Dad’s, but maybe that’s OK. They just have different styles. The more people who love Leo, the better, as far as Jake’s concerned.

He inserts his money into the vending machine and punches in the code for Sour Candies, then repeats the process for chocolate for Amy, while Roger makes them two coffees - strong. Parenthood is already exhausting; caffeine and sugar are the only thing stopping him from straight up passing out on the hospital floor and sleeping for an entire day. Well, that and the fact that he just had a baby who screams bloody murder when he’s not in his mom or dad’s arms.

“I’m going to need help carrying all this back to the room,” Jake says nonchalantly. “Want to come visit him?”

“Absolutely I do.”

“OK.” Nerves bubble inside of him as they get closer to Room 458 and he stops Roger just outside the door. “You have to promise me that if you go in there, you will be part of his life forever.” His eyes are dark, protective. He’s never been more serious about anything. “I will not let you treat him the way you treated me. He’s too good for that. If you’re in, you have to be all in. Are you all in?”

“I am,” he promises. “I know you’d probably find a way to throw me in jail if I let him down. And I won’t. I know I’ve been a selfish jerk but I really have changed - I want to be a good husband to your mom, a good father to you and your sisters and a good grandpa to your son.”

“His name is Leo,” Jake reveals, opening the door and smiling at the sight of Amy holding him. The tight feeling in his chest dissipates, replaced by a familiar warmth. He strides forward and kisses Amy, then Leo. “How were my two favourite people when I was gone? Missing me loads?”

“Of course,” she says without hesitation. “But other than that he just slept.”

“It’s tough being a baby, huh?” He whispers, stroking his son’s dark head of hair. “Maybe you can open your eyes for daddy now though?”

Nope. Nothing.

Damn it. He opened his eyes for Amy while he was in the bathroom earlier, which is totally not fair. She’s already turned him into a mommy’s boy before he had a chance.

(Not that he blames him. Leo does have a very awesome mom. The awesom-est).

“We brought you coffee,” Roger announces, stepping forward. “And congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Amy responds, gratefully accepting the to-go cup and taking a sip, despite it still being too hot. Not drinking coffee for 9 months was worse than all the worse bits of pregnancy combined. She complained about it constantly, but he’s pretty sure it was worth it all now.

“You look beautiful,” Roger says. “Considering you just had a baby.”

“Oh.” She grimaces at the back-handed, misogynistic comment and Jake hands his dad the precious cargo before he can dig himself an even deeper hole.

He hovers next to him, his super sharp detective instincts ready to catch Leo if anything happens.

Surprisingly - or maybe unsurprisingly, considering how he has at least 4 kids that Jake knows of (and maybe more that Roger himself doesn’t even know about, since he’s slept with so many women) - he holds Leo perfectly, supports his head, bounces him gently when he starts to shift like he knows he’s no longer with mom.

Jake takes a picture before he starts full on crying and then Amy takes a picture of 3 generations of Peralta men that, when framed, will make a perfect Christmas present for Karen.

“Leo’s a great name, by the way. I once knew a Leo. Leo McGarry. One of my teachers at flight school.” He pauses and Jake thinks he might start crying before the baby. “Great pilot, even better man. He was strict, but he believed in me, even when I screwed up my landings over and over. He had a heart attack and died a month before I graduated.”

“I’m sorry, dad,” he murmurs. He sounds like his version of Captain Holt and Jake would be similarly devastated if anything happened to him. Although losing his flight school mentor does explain a lot about why his landings are still bumpy as hell.

Roger smiles to himself. “He could’ve flown Air Force 1 if he wanted, the offer was there. But for some reason he decided to stick around and help idiots like me. He was the best of the best. Your Leo seems pretty great, too. You did good, kid. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks.” He exchanges a meaningful look with Amy. “We did good.”

“Peralta and Santiago. Always been a great team,” she grins.

As if hearing their names reminds him that he’s not being held by a) mom or b) dad, Leo wakes up and suddenly screams for them.

“Here, dad, I’ll take him.”

Roger transfers him back to Jake and like some kind of magic spell from Harry Potter has been cast, he calms back down, content in Jake’s arms.

“So dramatic,” Amy teases, taking another sip of coffee. “Maybe we should’ve named him after DiCaprio.”

[my-miraculous-headcanons]

Kwami Swap AU

Yup. My take on one of the most popular prompts out there. :D

MARINETTE

     • Marinette, when she becomes the next Black Cat, doesn’t really take into consideration her hero name or her outfit. In fact, the only thing that’s going through her mind in terms of a black cat is one of those void cats— just a quiet, black blob with big eyes full of wonder and curiosity. 

     • Her costume reflects that, as well as the instincts she gets from it. She ends up being the mostly silent hero, who only really talks to her Beetle. She’s ridiculously good at stealth, but she’s not really fantastic at loud distractions. She learned later on, however, that she can steal an akuma’s attention by terrifying it. If she keeps blending into the shadows and popping out, like she’s stalking them, it seems to seriously unnerve them.

     • Her relationship with Plagg is, to put it simply, great. He doesn’t bug her for expensive cheeses, because he knows that she’s not a rich kid and her parents would notice immediately, but she still likes to surprise him every once and a while by using whatever money she scrounged up from commissions and getting him fancy camembert. Usually he’ll settle for cheesy bread, cheese danishes, and cheddar snacks. 

     • Marinette and Plagg are both mischievous beings. She comes up with wild ideas, and he full-heartedly supports them. She sort of becomes the school’s resident schemer. It’s been a long time since Plagg last had such a troublemaker for a chosen, so he’s really enjoying himself this time around. Plus, she gives him head scratches and cuddles. This is the life.

     • Marinette’s superhero alter ego has many different names in the public, because she’s never bothered to come up with one of her own, and she doesn’t deal with media really well. In fact, she just straight up tells Beetle her real name on the first meeting— Plagg hadn’t told her much about secret identities. He probably forgot, too focused on how exceptional her parents’ cheesy bread was.

     • She tells Beetle to just call her Chaton. The public sees that as more of a pet name, so they make attempts at other names for her, but she doesn’t really like any of them. 

     • She has a bit of a crush on the Beetle, but she stays quiet most of the time, so really, there’s no way of him knowing. She doesn’t flirt, and since she’s on the job, she never allows herself to stutter. The most she does is blush, but that just makes her seem a bit shy. She’s not.

ADRIEN

     • Adrien, when he becomes the next Beetle, is wholly prepared. He has a whole costume planned out, with a cool jacket, gloves, a black mask with white spots on either side, everything you can think of. Hell, he even has the transformation sequence down to a pat. 

     • Adrien’s eager, maybe a bit too eager, and ends up getting a lesson on patience pretty early in the game. He’s not meant for close combat— his abilities are more long-ranged, and he has to sit back and truly think about how he’s supposed to use his Lucky Charms. The start is rough, because him and Chaton didn’t really have any way of keeping the akuma off their backs long enough to formulate any solid plans. However, later on, things start to go better for them, and he at that point had already figured out how to think quickly whilst under pressure.

     • His relationship with Tikki is rather sweet. She has an open opinion about his father, and takes it upon herself to pretty much properly raise him. She smothers him in affection, gives him as much advice as she can provide, and listens to his heart troubles when he needs to vent. In return, Adrien likes to spoil her with the best sweets he can find. 

     • Adrien and Tikki both have a huge thing for sweets. Particularly the ones from the Dupain-Cheng patisserie. (Tikki likes to tease him about it though, so he only ever goes there on special occasions.) The school pretty much shoves any sort of snack they can find into Adrien’s arms, because everyone knows about his ginormous sweet tooth, and everyone thinks he deserves as much as he wants. Marinette brings him a croissant every morning, and Nino always hands him a chocolate bar during lunch. He usually gives the chocolate bar to Tikki, but those croissants? All his. Back off.

     • Adrien already prepared to call himself the Beetle before he even left his room, the day he got his Miraculous. It took him a while to actually announce that to the public, however, since the first few fights he had next to no time to stick around and answer questions— he spent way too long trying to figure out how to use his Lucky Charm. Eventually he was able to tell friendly teenage reporter, Alya, that he calls himself Beetle. It blew up rather quickly. Unfortunately, he couldn’t tell anyone what his Chaton’s name was. He just calls her Chaton. 

     • He’s okay with the public disregarding his pet name and trying to figure out their own name for her. After all, he feels like he should be the only one who gets to call her that. 

     • Adrien has a ridiculous crush on Marinette, and yes, that crush extends to his friendly kitty, because he pretty much knew her identity from the beginning. She had just blurted it out, apparently not being informed about the whole secret identity thing. Begrudgingly, he didn’t want to disappoint Tikki, so he kept his mouth shut about his own identity. Marinette never seemed to mind, thankfully.

MIXED HEADCANONS

     • Adrien and Marinette quickly become good friends after the gum incident. Marinette was a bit embarrassed in the beginning, apologetic for having judged him so quickly. Adrien was super awkward at first, especially because of the sudden realisation that this girl is his superhero partner and he isn’t allowed to say anything about it.

     • Alya ships MariBeetle and has absolutely no shame about it, even though she does feel a little sorry for Adrien. After all, that poor boy has a crush the size of a skyscraper on Marinette, but... Well, best friends come first! And besides, she’s SEEN the Beetle give Marinette The Look™, which means there’s a legitimate possibility of it happening! At least Adrien also has a crush on the city’s feline hero. After all, once she makes MariBeetle happen, she’ll have the connections to make AdriChaton happen. 

     • Nino is also aware of that Look™ that the Beetle had given Marinette, but he’s quite frankly totally against MariBeetle. It’s the only thing he and Alya wholeheartedly disagree on. First of all, he has to look out for his bro, and he knows Adrien has a thing for Marinette. Secondly, there’s no way he’d ever let Marinette get swept up in that superhero business! She’s like his little sister, he doesn’t want her getting hurt or targeted by Hawkmoth!

     • Literally no one knows about Marinette’s massive crush on the Beetle except, possibly, Alya, and even Alya’s not 100% sure about it. Marinette keeps her secrets locked up tight, and if it were any other boy, she’d probably gush about them all the time, but... It’s a little weird for people to think that she’s just some fangirl, when in actuality, that’s not the case. She doesn’t want people she knows to dumb down her infatuation to some simple celebrity crush thing. That’s not the case at all.

     • Adrien’s, like, secretly on board with more than half of the wild plans Alya has in order to set Marinette up with the Beetle, but he can’t say it because it would look super suspicious of him to suddenly be okay with Marinette dating some other dude. It’s unfortunate that Marinette quickly and calmly shoots down every idea, using perfectly logical points.

     • Adrien has spotted Marinette and her Kwami once, and it was... possibly the cutest exchange he’s ever seen in his life. Plagg kind of acts like a snot, but it’s perfectly clear that he has a major soft spot for his chosen. He called Chloe a very colourful name, then started purring and cuddling up into Marinette’s cheek. Tikki was fighting to keep her giggling in at the sight. She later tells Adrien that Plagg very rarely acts so openly affectionate.

     • Marinette doesn’t put up posters in her room. She’s seriously not in the mood to seem like a fangirl, and since Alya’s in her room all the time, she really can’t put any even if she wanted to. She doesn’t want Alya to know. She does have her phone screensaver as the Beetle and his Chaton, though.

     • Tom and Sabine absolutely know that the strapping young man who sometimes visits the bakery has the biggest crush on their daughter ever, and they’re, quite frankly, on his side. Or, well, Tom is. Sabine is a little scary and makes a point to give him a hidden threat every time he visits, basically informing him that if he hurts Marinette, he’ll be uppercutted directly into the sun.

     • There’s a lot of pranks and stuff that happens at the school, but the problem is that literally no one knows who’s pulling it. Well, that isn’t true, pretty much everyone high-key expects that it’s Marinette, but the problem is that there’s no proof. No one can ever catch her in the act, and no matter how much searching you do, you won’t find your stolen items on her or in any of her belongings. She’s a ninja.

Anyone is welcomed and encouraged to add their own thoughts! Hope you liked this, it was fun to write. My mother and I caught a stray kitten recently and I’ve just been brimming with happiness and creativity since then. :)

[pagonianychta]

Power Outage

Fandom: TMNT

Pairing: Donatello/Reader

Word Count: 1929

I keep editing this and I just need to Post It

AO3 Link

You were relaxing downstairs, taking up as much of the couch as possible and enjoying your alone time, when there was an outburst of barking upstairs from your dog. You sat up and listened intently for any other sounds under the barks, quietly making your way up the stairs. Close to your room, you could hear someone.

“No! Ahh! Bad dog, no!” They whispered. You peaked around the corner, all tension draining from your body at the sight of your friend Donatello trying to wrestle his staff from the jaws of your oh so ferocious Corgi.

“Ginger! Put it down!” You commanded and they both stopped dead, Ginger letting the staff fall from her mouth and turning to pant at you excitedly. You squeaked a toy from the floor a couple times, cooing:

“You want the toy Ginger? You want it? Go get it!” You tossed it down the stairs and off she went, leaving you to raise an eyebrow at the haggard turtle before you.

“What're you doing Donnie?”

“Well, you said we could come over while your parents were gone… right?” He sheepishly rubbed his neck, hoping it hadn’t been a rhetorical offer.

“Well yeah but… I guess I’m just surprised someone took me up on the offer,” you shrugged, heading back down the stairs.

“I mean, I can go! I don't wanna bother you.”

“It's fine, I promise,” you smiled at him over your shoulder and he looked away with a bashful smile. You headed to the fridge and offered Donnie a spot on the couch, which he accepted.

“You want a drink?”

“Oh, no thanks, I’m okay.”

“Cool, catch.” You tossed a can across the room, the ninja catching it without even trying. You knew he’d be too awkward to accept your offer, so you had to force your hospitality on him.

“So.” You flopped down next to the turtle and put your feet up on the coffee table, opening your can with a satisfying hiss. “Were your brothers getting on your nerves? Or did you just miss me?”

“A little of both,” he teased.

“Well lucky for you I am very pleasant company,” you handed him a controller, “and I have violent video games.”

Donnie was more than happy to accept. The two of you settled on fighting games, because fighting each other is more fun than working together, and the next few hours flew by. There was a lot of smack talk and shoulder shoving, Donnie at one point knocking the controller from your hands entirely, frustrated at constantly losing. The skill gap wasn’t enormous, but it was pretty clear, mostly because you didn’t have to spend time training and saving the world. As such: more time for video games. The turtle had won about a third of the games and now after he finally got one more victory under his belt, he put the controller down.

“That’s it! Tapping out! I’m ending this on a victory.” He crossed his arms proudly and you rolled your eyes. Without the loud sounds of ass beating, you could hear something pelting against your window.

“Is it raining?” You both turned to the window instinctively, forgetting the curtains were closed so wandering eyes didn’t see a mutant on your couch. Just then, there was a flash and an unsettlingly loud crack of thunder that shook your home, taking the power with it. You jumped and reflexively smacked your hand against your friends chest. Silence.

“...Donnie?”

“I'm here.” He put his hand on your forearm and you groped around for your phone, using the flashlight to illuminate the room. You looked back to Donnie who quickly removed his hand from your arm and you couldn't help a small breath of relief from being able to see again.

You left the phone face down on the table to let the light shine, heading to the kitchen. There was a small lantern under the sink that held tea lights, so you grabbed and lit it, bringing the gentle orange glow back to the couch and turning off your flashlight.

“So now what?” You asked, sitting and facing Donnie. You brought your knees to your chest, afraid some demon would come out from under the couch in the darkness and grab your ankles. “Should we go to the lair if the power doesn’t come back?”

“No, this is…this is fine. If you’re okay with it,,” he shrugged awkwardly. “Spending time together. Talking.”

“Ugh, like we’re friends or something,” you teased and he rolled his eyes.

“What should we talk about?”

“I dunno.” You rested your head against the back of the couch. “Wanna tell me about the science of thunderstorms?” You teased again. Since you brought the candles, his focus had been slowly waning and at this point he was kind of listening. You were looking at him, all curled up against the couch in the gentle glow of the candlelight, and his brain was functioning at about half capacity.

“Sure,” he said quietly, “I can do that.” But he didn't. Right now, with the sound of the rain lulling you both into a comforting haze, there was no chance. In the small reach of the candles glow it was as though you were the only two in the world, everything else gone with the power.

Had Donnie always been this cute? You'd be the first the admit you'd always had kind of a thing for him, finding his brains and dorky demeanor charming, but right now something seemed… different; the gentle motion of his breathing and the way he was looking at you, almost like admiration.

The mutant tried really hard not to stare at your lips for too long, but the way they were parted just gently so made it really hard. He was incredibly nervous suddenly, but neither of you noticed the gap between you getting smaller.

“Then go ahead.” You swallowed thickly.

Closer.

“Impress me.”

Closer and then a pause. Finally, the gentle pressure of your lips meeting.

The kiss was brief and sweet, just what you'd expect from someone like Donatello. When he pulled away there was a moment of lingering between you; another crack of thunder and lightning snapped you both out of it. You'd turned to look out the window again and when you turned back there was just a turtle shell in the furthest possibly corner of your couch.

“Donatello,” an endeared smile graced your lips, knowing how he was most likely hiding from embarrassment, “you can come out.”

“I'm sorry!” His lanky self popped back out. “I'm sorry I didn't mean to- I mean, I did but- it was just, the light and the rain and your eyes-” he smacked his hands over his face, blushing furiously, “I'm sorry.” The atmosphere had gotten to you too, but the mention of your eyes caused you to color as well.

“It's alright,” you laughed, gingerly grabbing his wrist. “I wanted you to kiss me.” He peeked out from between his fingers.

“...really?”

You chuckled, pulling his hands down and holding them between you. Donnie was suppressing a goofy grin at the sight of his hands in your own.

“Maybe you’re not as smart as I thought,” you teased.

“Hey, I can reverse engineer alien technology, but I don’t know anything about-” he brought a hand up to gesture between the two of you, “-this. If I didn’t know then maybe you weren’t giving me the right signs,” he pouted and turned his head away.

“Oh, I’m sorry, was this-”, you dramatically batted your eyelashes at him, “-not enough of a sign I wanted you to kiss me?”

“I don’t know! I was too busy staring like an idiot! I wasn’t thinking!”

“Well good thing because otherwise I’d be sitting here unkissed.”

Donnie just sighed. A few moments passed before a grin slowly started to form.

“What?” You laughed at his expression.

“We totally kissed,” he said with a dorky chuckle and you rolled your eyes.

“We could do it again,” you offered a bit shyly and Donnie snapped back to reality.

“What?”

“Oh,” you then realized maybe you shouldn’t have said that. “I mean, nevermind, forget I said anything,” you laughed awkwardly, immediately wanting to fall through the floor.

“No! I mean, yes! Please!”

There was an extended period of the two of you awkwardly trying to figure out how to go about this; shifting around, not knowing where to put your hands. Now you were sitting in front of each on your knees, hands resting on your thighs.

“Okay.” Donnie steeled himself. “I’m gonna do it.” Neither of you being lost in the haze of a romantic moment made this surprisingly nerve wracking. You nodded reassuringly. He leaned forward slowly, closer, and right as your lips were about to meet you couldn’t take the tense atmosphere anymore and started giggling. Donnie’s whole face flushed in embarrassment.

“Don’t laugh at me!” You grabbed his face and pressed your lips against his in response, the ninja immediately melting.

“Gotta rip off the band-aid.” You pulled away and Donnie drunkenly swayed for a moment before falling off the couch and crashing to the ground.

“This is the best day of my life,” he mumbled. A few moments later the lights returned and you checked your phone for the time, which turned out to be a lot later than you thought.

“I think it might be time to head home, Casanova,” you smiled down at him and he sat up, suddenly remembering this wasn’t a dream and that other things did exist in this moment.

“Oh! Right, it’s probably-” he stood and was abruptly cut off by the jelly legs he didn’t know he had, bracing himself on the coffee table. You stared at each other for a brief moment in surprise and he let out an embarrassed laugh. You stood as well, lifting the lantern and blowing out the tea candles before glancing back up at the turtle who had just been admiring you while he thought you weren't looking.

“Um,” he spoke suddenly like he just found his voice, “I uh- you-” He struggled to find the words. You waited patiently, but your small smile and the way you were just looking at him was not helping.

“Do you think- I mean, would you-”

“Hey Donnie?” You walked past him and he followed you up the stairs. “Did you know I have a boyfriend?” He didn’t say anything, confused as to what you were talking about. Didn’t you want him to kiss you? Why would you want that if you had a boyfriend? And how didn’t he know you had a boyfriend?

“He’s funny and cute and really smart.” You entered your bedroom and opened the window. “He’s pretty dorky but,” you turned and leaned against the wall to face him, “he’s a ninja so, he’s kind of a badass.” It finally clicked for Donnie who got a whole new wave of euphoria, another smile spreading across his face.

“He sounds great,” he sighed dreamily and you reached out for his hand.

“Be careful going home, okay?” Donnie opened his mouth to speak. “Yes, you can tell your brothers.”

He let out a cheer and swung out the window up to the roof and when you went to stick your head out, he appeared upside down in the window.

“I um... I’ll call you?” He offered awkwardly and you laughed and nodded. Donnie kissed your forehead before leaving for good this time, spending the next ten minutes silently cheering and celebrating on the rooftop.

[magnificentnightmaresuit-blog]

Duty above all

Was it her duty to bring some sense back into him? Could she? Sasuke has slipped through his friends' and family's fingers. He had pushed them away one by one -even her… so she wondered what she was doing there alone with him in that shadowy small room.

She would have laughed if she had the heart to.

Today was Ino's birthday. The girl was the typical bubbly blond girl who radiated with joy and happiness. No missions as ninja or hardships seemed to chip away her sunny smile or her mischievous character. Rather it has reinforced that side of hers, especially after she's seen a close friend almost die before her. That's why she was so popular among the ninja population, and even amongst civilian.

She knew how to be the pleasant meek girl, and fun hard partygoer when needed.

So, the moment Ino told Hinata's stern father that they would drink tea and discuss just among girls, Hinata almost scoffed. Ino didn't even flinch. No one would've believed Hinata had she called Ino out.

Yet there they were: the beer was moving around, the music was blaring and sweaty bodies were sliding against one another. Yeah, she was definitely not drinking tea. The thought made her smile…

Until her eyes fell on him.

He wasn't looking back.

In fact, she was totally invisible to him.

She didn't like how her heart reacted. It felt too implicated.

"Hey, you look at Sasuke-kun?"

The heavy weight that suddenly landed on her shoulder scared her. She tore her eyes from the dark haired young man to look at her left: pink soft hair met her gaze.

"Ah, Sakura-Chan… Not really" she muttered, even though the music was blaring.

Sakura had asked a simple question. She just had to give a simple little answer. Yet a lie escaped her lips as if breathing. It was so natural… it was so vicious and shameful for someone with her education. She had lied about watching him.

Hinata had been watching him the moment he entered the party and he had been ignoring her. That's the truth.

"Really? Well" Sakura said then sighed "I've tried you know? I've tried to help him but he just keeps… how can I put that…?" Sakura screamed over the music.

"Destroying his life?" Hinata said a bit louder.

Sakura laughed "that's too much. Maaan, Hyuga certainly don't know what having fun mean!"

Hinata turned to her side once again and met unfocused green eyes. On closer inspection, she realized that her companion of the night had red puffy eyes. She bit her lips, feeling guilty for being so engrossed in her own head.

"Are you alright Sakura-Chan?"

"What is the problem if Sasuke decided to have fun? I heard that ménage-à-trois was a lot of fun"

"You should put that cup aside"

"Look at you! Look at me! We're here like moping clouds of desolation, bad-mouthing his life's style while he's having fun" Sakura slurred a bit "maybe he's the one who's right."

"Sakura-Chan…"

"He used to be a moping grey cloud too; but since he learned to have some fun with his fangirls, he's cooler, right Hina-Chan?" Sakura chuckled "maybe we could get over ourselves if we tried"

"Sakura-Chan… you're babbling now"

"Whaaat? Oops. Sorry, I forgot that since you're seven, you lost that right. You'd better stay a virgin or the Hyuga won't be happyyyy"

"Sakura-Chan!"

She didn't want to hear any more of that. Sakura's words seemed to be true. Sasuke was just partying like anyone else. He was making out with two girls at the same time, but still, what had she to do with anything? She had enough 'rights' to worry about him and try to reason with him, but not enough to have any says in his choices.

The only persons that had a say was either his actual family or his girlfriend. She could be by some extend family, but it wasn't the case yet… even then, it still didn't mean anything. She was nothing to him, yet that feeling was unmistakable… It had gnawed at her guts for too many a year to create confusion, and she certainly didn't want Sakura to poke around and expose her ugly feelings.

Honor before all.

Hinata heaved Sakura and put her right arm around her neck. She dragged her outside. The drunken girl looked out of it until Hinata brought her some medicine made by the same girl.

It was as disgusting as it was efficient.

"Gah! I can't believe I made this"

"You sure did" Hinata said as she proceeded to sit beside the pinkette "is it better now?"

"Yeah, thanks… sorry for the comment. It was uncalled for"

"I-it's okay." Hinata flushed a deep red "you weren't you… if there's anything I can-"

"I love him so much… It's driving me crazy" Sakura confessed with teary eyes "I've never drunk this much"

"I know that feeling" Hinata said with a grimace "sometimes it isn't the purest of feeling"

Sakura chuckled "he told me that love doesn't justify anything… It isn't enough that I love him or that he potentially loves me… tsk"

A sob escaped the pinkette.

"Sakura-Chan…" Hinata whispered as she reached for her friend.

"No." A sob escaped her tight throat again. "It's okay. Don't pity me over a pathetic heartbreak."

"I know Sasuke-kun isn't easy to fall in love for-"

"Sasuke?"

Sakura instantly laughed so loud, over and over; as if Hinata had told her the world's best joke. Hinata was confused as the laugh kept going on and on, getting some attention from people not far from them.

The sweet and contagious laugh looked genuine until Hinata realized it never reached those crystal-green eyes. It was one of hysteria. Soon enough the dark haired young woman followed suit.

"I don't know why you're laughing… but it was contagious"

"It's just… no, never mind." Sakura smiled, then said "Sasuke is a closed chapter now. No indeed, it's a bad idea to fall for him, but now I know there're even worse love stories"

Hinata listened in silence. There was no beginning or end to the story Sakura was telling, just the middle and little to no information about facts. Maybe it was another hot boy that had an unorthodox lifestyle; maybe it was a story even more shameful than hers. There weren't enough pieces to the puzzle, but there's enough for Hinata not to question the girl further.

She didn't want to talk about her lover. Hinata would respect that.

"I'm torn you know? On one side he's completely and utterly out of limits… I shouldn't even glance his way… on the other side…"

"Your feelings… are too strong?"

"It's more than that… as ninjas we're just tools that are risking our lives every second. I accepted to sacrifice everything like my parents before me, but…" Sakura sighed "Love is the last piece of us and we've got to sacrifice even that?"

It stroked a sensitive cord inside Hinata. Why should they all get sacrificed? Weren't they sacrificing enough by going on those perilous missions? Wasn't it enough that since they are sixteen they danced with death in the name of the village?

For someone like her, this wasn't even a question. Sure, the village wasn't her first priority - her clan was. She had to and did surrender her all to their cause, their plans and their future. Her duty was to preserve her clan's honor and prosperity. Her existence was skewed around and inside that. Nothing else.

No, she wasn't like Sakura.

Hinata chuckled.

"Okay, I've humiliated myself enough. I'd better go home"

"Are you sure you're fine? I can accompany you"

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

"What about Kakashi-sensei? He might be mad at you? Ino had to come up with a lot of… excuses to get this party"

"Kakashi…" Sakura chuckled "he'd be more than happy if I got there drunk with a man at my side. So don't worry"

Hinata was too shocked by her words and the familiarity in her tone. Sakura had always been the polite girl who used suffixes with everyone expect Naruto… then Hinata remembered that she wasn't quite herself.

"I still insist on-"

"I'll go with her"

Both girls turned around to meet dark cold eyes. Hinata stiffened on instinct. She looked back at Sakura, then back again at the newcomer. Despite being aware of the growing friendship between them, Sakura was still a slightly drunken girl and he was a boy. It wasn't like it was Naruto or…

Thinking about his name, she flinched.

"Hey, I mean no harm Hinata-kun. I just wanna help"

"Yeah, but-"

"It's okay Hinata-chan. I'll go with Sai-kun-" she paused at Hinata's facial expression "it's okay Hinata-chan. He won't bite me. Besides, he think I look like a dog, so he won't kiss me either"

Sakura laughed and shrugged. Sai gave them his usual pleasant but fake smile. Hinata was confused. That the pink-haired girl was so keen on having Sai give her company surprised her –after all, the girl's best friend had been interested in him for some time. Besides, they started on rocky grounds. Yet Sakura seemed at ease.

Hinata hesitated. She was ready to call Naruto when Sakura snagged a big chunk of a nearby tree and crumbled it as if it was bread.

"If he ever tries anything, he'll end like this. So stop worrying Hina-Chan"

Sakura smiled and kissed the girl's cheek.

"We'd better start moving Sai-kun"

"Yeah, I'm coming" he said with an agreeable voice.

As he walked toward Hinata, he stopped beside her, landed her hand on her shoulder and leaned over to reach her left ear "if you don't hurry up, Sasuke might go down those girls in… fifteen minutes"

Hinata shivered "S-so what? He's a-a big boy. He… can do whatever he-"

"So that's what you tell yourself at night?"

Hinata pushed his hand away. She glared at him so hard her eyes felt on fire along her whole body. His suspicion, her anger, her fear, her reality… everything melted into one and turned her body into a shaky container waiting to explode.

This was the second time she acted so differently than a Hyuga.

Her father raised her to stay cold-blooded even in face of death.

Here she was, getting flustered over something trivial… or was it?

"What are you implying?"

"He is the brother of your fiancé. His behavior affects his clan's image and it indirectly affects your clan's." Sai said as if he had a perfect knowledge of both clans' business. Funny enough, it managed to soothe Hinata "It's your duty to watch over him in a sense too, isn't it?"

"Yes- I mean, no. No, I-"

"Go to the second floor. Once there, take the first door at your left. You can thank me later".

"Hey, I'm tired. If you wanna stay, I can go alone. Just know that she's got a fiancé who can kick your butt in no time" Sakura screamed, as she moved backward.

"What would I thank you for?"

"Don't mind Sakura…"

"Sai-Kun, what would I thank you for?" Hinata hissed, as she grabbed his forearm.

Sai sighed. "I'm helping you defend your clan's honor. Isn't that a duty of yours? Isn't that why you marry him?"

"I like Itachi-san!" Hinata quickly said with a grimace and a frown. She didn't like where their conversation's going. "I like him. I'm going to join Sasuke-kun but it's just to stop him. That's all there is."

"We all know that it's just a political marriage. Itachi was never around unlike Sasuke. It's okay if you've got feelings for the younger bro-"

"Stop it" Hinata hissed "I'm going to fetch Sasuke-kun and bring him back to the Uchiha compound. You go find Sakura-Chan"

"Of course. Our duty calls us"

"Yes, my duty calls me"

Was it to prove something to Sai?

Was it to prove it to herself?

She kept mulling over their discussion over and over. He had said such things she'd felt insulted. In which ways, she couldn't tell, but there was no way he could've insulted her any more. She cared for both brothers, and she was going to marry the big brother.

That's her duty.

Now, her duty was to preserve their clans from shame…

Her duty was to bring Sasuke back to his senses.

With iron will, she opened the doors from where escaped moans. She prepared herself for the worse, but it wasn't that bad. Both girls were already naked, their bodies betraying the excitement in which they were already basking ��� goosebumps and perky breasts. Along their inner thighs slid the juices of their pleasure.

The moment her eyes landed on him, his eyes shot open. His eyes were obviously clouded with pleasure, but he didn't feel ashamed of her presence. The girls kept moaning and kissing his skin while his eyes pierced through hers.

The shame of walking in on such a scene burned her skin, but the need to stop him from going any further with those girls was too strong to ignore.

"Sasuke… kun" she said loud enough to get the girls' attention.

"Oh, if it isn't the famous Hyuga" the red-head said with a sloppy smirk. "Wanna join?" she added after some seconds went by.

"What are you saying Akane! You're probably talking to our future sister-in-law"

Both girls laughed, as Sasuke didn't even flinch. Hinata thought she'd die. It took her an incredible amount of self-control and courage to utter her next words:

"We've to talk"

"Hey, can't you see that we're busy knuckle-head?"

Akane emphasized her words by waving Sasuke's dick. Hinata blushed and quickly looked away without any second thoughts. After going so far, her stubbornness was the sole anchor she had left.

She didn't bulge.

"Gosh, hey honey can't you-"

"We're done for tonight"

Sasuke's calm words heaved a huge weight from Hinata's shoulders but outraged the two horny girls. After tons and tons of complain, they still got dressed and asked promises from Sasuke. He made none, much to their disappointment.

After that intimate sight she got of Sasuke she hadn't found the courage to face him just yet. She waited, heard every lustful word and every sound of clothes sliding against one another. It seemed endless, until she got bumped into the shoulder twice and hard enough for her to move away from her previous spot.

Hinata looked at the girl with shock written all over her face. One stopped.

"You think you're better than us because you're a Hyuga? Or because you're gonna marry in the Uchiha clan? With Itachi of all people" Akane sneered "it's amusing to see such a high eminence in such a party. I'll make sure to remember it"

"Is that a threat?" Hinata asked as calmly as possible.

"Threat? Are you afraid I'll spill the beans to Neji? Or your father... or maybe your fiancé?" the red-head pretended to think over it "do I have a reason to?"

"I-I just wanted to talk to Sasuke-Kun-"

"Or have him for yourself. Have fun with him. We certainly prepared him for you" Akane said as she moved away with her green-haired friend.

If Hinata ever replied, it'd have gotten unwanted attention. Maybe it was too late. Sai, now that Akane girl and her friend… she doubted about her presence. She was scared, scared enough to come back to her senses for the time being.

Was it her duty though? To bring some sense back into him? Could she? Sasuke has slipped through his friends' and family's fingers. He had pushed them away one by one -even her… so she wondered what she was doing there alone with him in that shadowy small room.

Yet when their eyes met, she entered the room and closed the door silently behind her.

"Did you hear that?"

Sasuke didn't answer. He just shrugged.

"They threatened us"

"No, just you"

"They'll badmouth you, and me and –and our families"

"It's not like I care. At worse, I'll get nasty eyes from both sides. Nothing new"

"Well, you should care. If not about your reputation or anything, at least for-"

"Not again"

"Yes"

"Did you go through all this pain and catfight to tell me about this old broken record?"

"Sasuke, this" she made a vague large gesture "this isn't normal."

"What's normal, eh?" Sasuke sat forward with both hands crossed between his thighs "having a fiancé at seven?"

Hinata breathed hard. She had to expect it though. He's always been blunt. Apparently it was getting worse over time.

"Why are you looking at me like I insulted you?"

"Why did you bring something personal into this discussion?"

"If I'm wrong that means you're right isn't it? That means everyone from the Uchiha clan is right isn't it?"

"This marriage is for the greater good"

"You're marrying a man you don't even love." Sasuke hissed, his eyes glinting under the moon. "you can't really judge me"

The guilt and shame stabbed right through her again.

"I li-love Itachi-san"

"Answer came too late. Try again"

"I-it still has nothing to do with anything. Look, at your life! You live in excess. That shows how much you aren't doing well. You're hiding your sadness behind alcohol and women."

He glared.

She moved forward until she was a foot away.

"You need help"

That was the last drop for him. Sasuke swiftly got up, scaring her in the process. She backed away but soon realized that for every step she took back, he moved at the same pace toward her.

His glare turned her back into a small kid that had no power against an adult –it burned its way through her skin. Soon enough, her whole body felt restless.

Unable to meet his gaze, her eyes slide to his lips. When fear clawed her back even more harshly, she lowered her gaze to his torso that dimly glowed under the moonlight.

A small voice begged her to get out of the room at that moment.

She resisted the voice.

When her back hit a wall, she closed her eyes…

"I need help?"

… And felt his breath fan her face as his frustration rolled away from his body to penetrate hers.

"Let's say I need help. So what? What has my so-called coping mechanisms to do with you? I've never questioned yours after all"

"Wh-what are y-you talking about?" she asked, but never met his eyes.

"You've stalked Naruto for three years. Daydreamed and obsessed over him. I knew you fantasized about that loser who was just like you but never gave up"

Hinata's head snapped up. She finally looked into his eyes. There's nothing inside them but anger. They were endless pool of darkness and scorn. That's what she as seeing; that's what his words made her feel.

"That's what you thought of me… That I was a loser…"

She remembered Sakura's words. The girl has been right –she knew it. She even wanted to laugh at her own expense but the noise was stuck in her throat. If anything tried to escape her, it'd turn into tears.

Sasuke was the last person on this earth she could cry in front of, not after this revelation.

"That's how you saw yourself"

"What about you? You didn't answer the question"

"You never asked"

"Was I a loser to you?" Hinata hissed. She couldn't scream. Not yet. Not tonight. Maybe never.

Maybe this was the end.

Sasuke removed his hand that trapped her against the wall and moved back.

"You weren't particularly strong… you could've trained. Instead, you kept following a boy who had the hots for someone else"

"All this time you were faking to be a friend. You could at least have the decency to come clean"

"Why? It's your life. It's your choice. Now it's my turn to have my fun, yet you wanna cockblock me. In the name of what?"

"You don't even care about your father? Your mother?"

"I do care. I'm a ninja. I've decided to sacrifice my life like our great ancestors. Should I sacrifice my personal life too?" Sasuke deadpanned "I ain't the virginal goat who gets to be sacrificed"

"Come clean for on-"

Sasuke put this time both hands at either side of her head. She was fully trapped, yet she wasn't looking away. There's an edge in her gaze her whole body was aware of. She knew she shouldn't look so straight into his eyes in such a small place, in such a dark room, in such a tensed state… it felt like a challenge. Hinata knew he liked challenges.

Or maybe it was something else? A lot of maybes and what-ifs swirled into her head, as much as did her anticipation and confusion. What had she expected when she walked upon his naked self? His closest friends couldn't help. His parents couldn't, neither did Itachi that he had adored so much until he reached twelve.

Maybe he was a lost cause?

Or maybe he wasn't?

Sasuke and Sakura seemed to be right.

"I'm not you. I wouldn't have sacrificed my freedom for shit. We're in a village. It's useless and silly to marry to create an alliance that already exists."

His friends weren't against it –Sakura thought he was just a playboy who couldn't settle down; Naruto thought Sasuke was just having fun. Kakashi-sensei thought that was the way to take advantage of good looks and youth. His father had let go long ago, and his mother simply wanted him to settle. His big brother didn't care as long as Sasuke was healthy.

Those were the most important people in his life. So, Hinata felt stupid and guilty. Apparently he didn't think high of her either. Apparently, he never had.

She lowered her head again.

What a sad conclusion, she thought.

"Did the cat get your tongue or what?"

"No… I… Are you happy? Is this what you've always wanted? To have that kind of freedom?"

"We're no kids anymore. Dreams barely have the right to exist in this new reality…"

"I'm sorry to have wasted your time. I'm sure you've got better things to do" Hinata whispered.

Her eyes were already wet. Time's running out; her tears were scraping the back of her eyes, begging for their freedom. Yet, his arms weren't moving away. Yet, she didn't push them away.

If she moved one inch too much, she'd break down.

"You've always been like this… so weak. You'd never say what you think… or when you felt hurt by someone's acts or words…" Sasuke whispered, his breath caressing her right ear "look at me"

Hinata bit her lips. She was going to break down. The feeling was overwhelming… so she fought. She pushed back; hit his chest with pathetic punches. Her fits landed over, and over, and over…

Until she broke down.

Until anger rose in her chest.

"What do you want? Eh, Sasuke-kun? I know I'm weak. I'm a pathetic loser! I can only be sacrificed to be useful! I've always been like this! Now let me go!"

She fought, hit and kicked. It went on and on. He had expected her to calm down but she didn't until he got tired. So, he flushed his body to hers, grabbed her hair, intertwined his fingers into her long midnight strands and turned her face toward his.

Hinata tried again, but her hits were rendered futile as that of a child. There wasn't much she could do.

"I'm sorry"

"You say what you thought about me"

"Yeah, but that's a closed chapter of your life. There's a difference between that eleven year old naïve idiot and this seventeenth joinin getting ready to get into anbu. So, don't play the victim" Sasuke said as he stared at her mouth.

"Maybe you should take some of your advice" Hinata whispered.

Sasuke's eyes moved back to her eyes, letting go of his vice-like grip in her hair "oh yeah?"

"I know why you do this, and… your friends love you. Your family does too… I love you too. So, why do you feel this… need to go around?"

"What if I know this? What if it's just for fun and you're wrong?"

Hinata chuckled "I've been in your shoes. Excess is a coping mechanism for you"

"Would you be happy if I get a girlfriend then?"

"I'll be happy when you try and reconnect with everyone around you…"

"I get it" Sasuke muttered.

He lowered his face until his lips landed on her jaw. Her whole body trembled from that contact alone. At that moment she knew she had waited for it for far too long.

Sasuke left another open kiss under her jaw, on her neck, on the valley of her breast… and he bit her shoulder lightly. He lifted her up until she sat on the table next them. It was high enough for them to kiss properly, with their bodies so close not even a hair could come in between.

When their lower parts met, both gasped. She felt it; she felt him hard and uncompromisingly ready. He wanted her just as she wanted him. The thought was enough for her to rub against his erection until he lost his cool and control.

"Maybe I should try to reconnect with you first"

[eyeofthewolfe]

Ninjago Normal AU

A World Where Master Wu Never Trained ANY Ninja

Chapter Nineteen: The Story of the Two Brothers

It took three refills of hot water in the tea kettle before Cole, the last teenager to share their story, finally shut his mouth for good. As Master Wu took another long sip from his own tea cup, Nya leaned in very close to the slightly trembling teenager. “I didn’t know about all that with your father,” she whispered softly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

With a hesitation, Cole looked down at Nya. “I was afraid I would devalue myself… I would be a runaway rather than a wanderer.”

Before Nya could respond, the echo of Master Wu slapping his cup back on the table jerked both Nya and Cole’s eyes back to the old man. Morro snorted, but remained sleeping against the far way.

“I am sorry to hear about your mother, Cole.” Master Wu responded to Cole’s story with sad eyes. “She was a wonderful woman and was an honorable friend.” Cole nodded, used to knowing that Master Wu had known and were friends with most of his new friend’s parents: Kai and Nya’s parents, Jay’s mom, and now his mom.

Kai twirled his small tea cup in his hands and leaned back. “So, now it’s your turn. You know, and apparently already knew, about all of us and now I am curious how.”

The other teenagers nodded. Lloyd, who had an unusual interest in each of the teenager’s stories, let his perked up head slowly fall back into his arms.

The old man took another long sip of tea. He placed the small cup down and folded his hands together tightly on the table. “Very well. However, in order for you all to understand, I must start from the very beginning.

Long before time had a name, a strong and powerful being formed this land of Ninjago utilizing four powerful weapons, the Four Golden Weapons. It was through him this world and all the people exist. After a long time of perfecting the world he had two sons, charged with caring for this world he created. However, an accident at the eldest’s young age caused his blood to be tainted with the greatest evil this world has ever known. It would take half a lifetime for the evil to take over, but the relationship between the brothers were never the same because of it.

As the brothers grew, they began to meet and befriend a group of remarkable warriors who could control the elements. It was not limited to just the four of creation, but a dozen of other elements were harnessed by these people in Ninjago. They had charged themselves with protecting the world of Ninjago, and without hesitation the younger brother allied himself with them. However, the evil in the older brother once again separated the brothers, this time leaving the monastery to seek training and alliance with one of a darker heart, like himself. This broke the younger brother’s heart, and in response to that, he pushed away all the elemental masters and lived alone in his father’s monastery.

Not soon after, the younger brother found a group of orphans who were scavenging for food in his garbage outside of the monastery. While most ran from him, one young boy stayed behind, clearly forgotten by the people of Ninjago. The young brother brought him some food that wasn’t meant for the garbage and he never left after that. He raised the young boy like he was a child he never had. The boy named himself Morro, meaning he came to the hill, or the mountain where he now lives.

Years later the Elemental Masters returned with the news that a great Serpentine War was brewing. While the younger brother practiced peace, he knew that he would have to fight the Serpentine in order to protect the land his father had made. However, to his shock, his older brother returned to fight by his side. He had become a Lord in his time away, and was surprised that his younger brother had become a father. Regardless, they led the Elemental Alliance to fight against the snakes, but while the war ended in victory, the Elemental Alliance was manipulated in uncontrollable ways, leading to disastrous consequences. Half of the alliance left while two masters rebelled our leadership, leading the two brothers to ban them into the very element they swore to use for good. After a few years of peace, the rest of the Elemental Master split up, including the four Elemental Masters of Creation. The only joy in the younger brother’s life was in a woman, who eventually chose the older brother as her mate. Together they had a son, and then that is when the evil finally took over.

The older brother went after the Golden Weapons and the younger brother had no choice but to stop him. The fight ended with the younger brother banishing the eldest into the Underworld, hopefully ridding this world of that evil forever. However, the younger brother was wrong. He tried living in peace, but the anger of his older brother came back in the form of the Skulkin Army, the undead warriors from that realm. They came not to harm the brother, but to take the weapons. He did not lift a finger to stop them. Because of that, the older brother was able to escape. The younger brother… I made a terrible mistake not trying to protect those weapons. I fear that my mistake will be costly, if what you all have said is true about my brother. There is only one way I can think of that could possibly stop him.”

The teenagers all looked around, a little baffled but more curious. “How?” Zane asked.

Master Wu poured himself some more tea. “You all must become warriors. Fighters. Elemental Masters.”

Kai raised his eyebrows. “So….like ninjas?”

Master Wu paused. “I…guess. If you want to use that word to describe it, then I will too. I shall train you all to be ninjas.”

As the teenagers all shared excited looks, Master Wu noticed the uncomfortable look his nephew gave the rest of the table.

“When I said all,” Master Wu interrupted with his gaze locked on the blonde kid. “I meant all of you.”

Slowly all the eyes fell on Lloyd. His green eyes widened. “What….but-“

Master Wu briskly interrupted the young teenager. “You have trained under your father, but there are things even he hasn’t taught you.”

That struck a nerve with Lloyd. He narrowed his eyes. “Oh, now you want to care? Five strangers walk in and suddenly now I’m your student?

His raised voice caused Morro to jerk awake in surprise. Master Wu sat up a little straighter. However, Lloyd wasn’t done.

“My whole life I’ve been alone. No mom, no dad, and certainly no you. When you showed up, I thought it could be different, but all you did was throw me right back into the school my mom abandoned me at!” His voice rose with emotion and his eyes swelled with tears. “So when my dad found me, all I wanted to do was be with him! He cared about me, loved me, supported me – and now you want to extend your hand to me?”

The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence. The five older teenagers with wide eyes kept their mouth shut as they looked back and forth between the old man and his nephew. Finally, Master Wu took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry.”

Lloyd’s lower jaw trembled. The room was dead silent. Even Morro sat frozen in his seat. Finally, Lloyd croaked. “That’s it? That’s all you are going to say?”

The old man sighed. “That is all I can say, nephew. I made a mistake with you as well. I was too busy feeling bad for myself that I was blind to you. And for that, I am sorry.”

The green eyes of the young teenager fell to the table. After a pause, a tear dashed down his cheek. “And…I’m sorry too. All this anger I had towards you…I never knew the full story. And now I know that I was wrong about you- about all of you.” The room was shocked to hear such profound words from the youngest at the table. “I’ve… always felt out of place. At my school, as the general, even on my own. But now… something feels right. I dunno if it’s you all or that thing that happens with the golden weapons or-“

Master Wu shot his head up. “What thing?” he interrupted briskly.

Lloyd choked on his words in surprise. “Oh, uh… the golden weapons? They did this weird thing when I first came close to them. Dad…doesn’t know but-“

“The Four Golden Weapons reacted in front of you?” The old man gasped in shock. “That…that means….” He looked around at the clueless people at the table.

“Means what?” Lloyd called out. A soft ding of a notification caused Jay to dig around in his pocket.

“The Prophecy of the Green Ninja…” Master Wu murmured as he stared at Lloyd. “This is not good.”

Before he could continue, Jay gasped dramatically. “What’s wrong?” Kai asked as he stared across the table.

Behind his glasses, Jay’s blue eyes were wide with shock. “It’s….it’s Cyrus.”

“Is he okay?” Nya instinctively asked. Jay nodded wildly, but it was clear something worse had happened.

“Cyrus and PIXAL returned to the city, but they saw…this.” He turned his phone around to show a terrifying picture.

Nya covered her mouth with a gasp and both Cole and Kai’s faces went pale. Zane blinked a few times and Lloyd felt chills run down his spine, this time the regular kind.

“It was Dad,” Lloyd murmured as Jay showed the picture to Master Wu and Morro. “He got…angry that I was taken.”

The group had figured out that much when looking upon the photo, a devastating still of Ninjago City up in flames.  

[rmoart]

Telepathy, an abandoned Naruto fanfic

2008-2009

A fic I started writing as a result of talking with a friend who was similarly into Naruto, and with whom I RP’d a horrendous amount of rather dubious content. Putting it here because the whole experience was a Learning Curve.

Chapter 1 - News Inuzuka Tsume stood before the Hokage, awaiting his news for her.

           The chuunin who had delivered the Sandaime’s request had informed her that the matter was urgent and concerned her family. Now her pack instinct was making her fidgety; the presence of another ninja was not soothing her at all, especially since he was from a foreign village.            Sarutobi noticed her restlessness, and decided to be as brief as reasonably possibly.            “Tsume-san, I have called you here both to inform you of news and to give you a mission of sorts. An envoy,” he said, glancing at the shinobi standing quietly at the window, “from the Hidden Mist has come to ask the Hidden Leaf to take in a child.” He drew a piece of paper from one of the ever-present piles on his desk, scanned it, and then looked up after confirming something. “Your aunt married into the Ogawa family, a Hidden Mist clan.” It wasn’t a question. “I’m sorry to inform you that the last of the Ogawa nin was killed in action a month ago; your cousin, Miharu.”            Tsume’s eyes widened as she slammed her hands down on his desk, disturbing one of the piles. “What? How did this happen? Even jounin need highly advanced specialised jutsu to detect them when they’re on the evasive! And Miharu… Miharu was one of the best, dammit!” Sarutobi observed that her nails were digging slightly into the wood.            Nodding tiredly, Sarutobi locked his fingers together, leaning his chin heavily on them. “While I am less familiar with the clans of the other villages than our own, I am curious as to how so many members of the clan were killed within such a short timeframe.”            “How short?” Tsume asked.            “Three months.”            Tsume spun to look at the Mist shinobi, who hadn’t even turned from the window as he spoke. “Three months?”            “Three months.”            “But… that’s over thirty nin! Who can kill that many in just three months?”            “We don’t know. We suspect that it may be someone, or a group of people with specialised tracking jutsu,” he answered, finally looking over his shoulder at Tsume, who growled as she realised his implication, “or those with doujutsu.” The shinobi locked eyes with Sarutobi, who nearly let a pained look flicker across his face. He was fully aware that the Hidden Leaf was home to two of the ‘Three Doujutsu’: the Byakugan and the Sharingan. “However,” the shinobi continued, “we do not believe that the Hidden Leaf is responsible. A... a rogue nin is the most likely candidate.”            Although Sarutobi was highly relieved that a political situation involving the two villages would not occur, he did not fail to notice the man’s reluctance to elaborate on the identity of the rogue nin.            The shinobi then turned to face Tsume, who still looked irritated. “Inuzuka-san, a child – about six years of age – has been left unscathed. As her closest living relative, I must ask if you would take her in, at least until she becomes a genin. At that point, which village she joins and her further training will be discussed. Can I ask you to do that?”            Tsume didn’t even hesitate to nod. “An orphaned pup of the extended Inuzuka pack needs help; I would be nothing if I did not uphold that.”            The shinobi bowed. “Many thanks, Inuzuka-san. I will ensure that the girl is prepared to leave the village in seven day’s time,” he said. He then bowed to Sarutobi, and turned to leave.            “Wait,” Tsume said. He paused in the doorway at Tsume’s request. “What should I know about the girl, and how come it too a whole month for you to approach the Inuzuka clan?”            The shinobi didn’t turn as he answered. “Her name is Ogawa Datsuko, and she is the daughter of Ogawa Shun and Ogawa Miharu. She is six years old, and appears to have inherited the family kekkei genkai very strongly. The reason we did not make contact as soon as we knew of Miharu’s death is because we only found out that she existed two weeks ago, when she submitted, in surprisingly good handwriting, a benefits form concerning her new status as an orphan of ninja parents.”            Tsume stared open-mouthed at the back of his head for a moment, and then regained her composure. “Didn’t know she existed? How?”            Shrugging, the shinobi answered, “Nin aren’t registered on the village documents until they start their education, and the Ogawa clan prefer not to declare children to the civil authorities. And I’m sure you, of all people, know how hard it is to find them without their approval.” With that, he left.            Tight-lipped, Tsume turned to Sarutobi. She looked distinctly like she wanted to maul the indifferent shinobi. “Weren’t aware of her existence,” she said angrily.            “Tsume…”            She sighed. “I’m sorry, Hokage-sama. I will leave to make preparations for… Datsuko’s arrival, and then in two days I will leave for Kirigakure.” She bowed, and then left the room, fists clenched and still muttering.            Sarutobi looked after her sympathetically, and wished that the village felt the same way about a certain, small blond boy.

Chapter 2 - Orphan Tsume and her nin-dog, Kuromaru, were met by the same shinobi a week later after they had registered their presence in Kirigakure. He gave them an address and directions, which Tsume declined when she realised that the address was her late cousins’ house, which she had visited before. A chuunin was to meet her there, with a packed and prepared child.            She briskly walked through the village, chilly and misty as usual, and ignored the strange looks she and her massive companion received. When an over-zealous genin challenged her right to be in the village, she calmly explained that she was carrying out a mission for the village, and pushed past the stunned girl.            On turning onto the street where the Ogawa compound was located, Tsume immediately focused on the fidgety chuunin standing by the entrance. As she strode up, he looked distinctly relieved.            “Inuzuka-san?”            “That’s me.”            “Thank Kami. The child is ready to go, as per orders.”            Tsume glanced around. “And where would she happen to be?”            The chuunin jumped and looked alarmed. “She’s not here? Oh crap, ah… umm…”            A slight tug on the leg of her shorts prompted Tsume to look down.            She struggled to keep her eyes focused on the child as she tried to take in the details, and crouched down, placing a hand on her head to help reduce the effects of the kekkei genkai.            Plain. Brown hair, slightly tangled. Green eyes. Pale skin, grubby in places. There were a few small stains on the black top and navy shorts she wore. Tsume sniffed, and realised that there was a confused smell of dirt and soap, where the girl had tried as well as she could to keep herself clean.            “Hi, Datsuko,” Tsume said. “I’m Inuzuka Tsume, and I’m the cousin of your parents. Sorry for not noticing you down here!” She laughed. “My pack will be looking after you from now on.” The girl regarded her silently, but she got a sense of acknowledgement from her. The she looked up at the chuunin, irritation on her features. “Who’s been looking after her?”            The chuunin shrugged.            Tsume growled at him, and then took one of Datsuko’s hands. “Come on, Datsuko. If I start ignoring you, make sure you get my attention, okay?” The girl did not respond, but dutifully followed her new guardian as they left behind the Ogawa compound and the village of her birth. * Tsume had managed to lose track of the girl at least once a day, even on the boat from the Mist Country, and was certain that if she hadn’t asked Kuromaru to carry her, Datusko would have been left wandering until she found either civilisation or death.            It wasn’t that she meant to.            That was the Ogawa kekkei genkai.            Gimantekimuu. Deceptive existence.            It rendered the person virtually invisible. Technically, they were still visible, but for the most part they were simply another face in the crowd, or nothing worth noticing. The eye, or indeed any other sense, seemed just to pass over them unintentionally. A reverse-doujutsu as such.            It was also impossible to completely deactivate.            This made it difficult to focus on any members of the Ogawa clan, even when they reduced the strength of the jutsu. Physical contact was necessary for most to focus on them for any length of time. This had lead to them developing jutsu that allowed these barriers to be broken to individuals, although Tsume had no knowledge of what they were, how they worked or whether Datsuko had mastered any of them. At the least, it certainly seemed that she hadn’t, or was choosing to refrain from using them.            The girl had only spoken out of politeness, to answer yes or no questions or to thank her. She hadn’t answered any of the questions of a personal nature, but listened courteously when Tsume filled the silences with chatter about her own pack, especially about her own two pups: Hana, who was twelve, was about to graduate from the academy, and showed a lot of promise in working with the dogs of the family, possibly even medically; and Kiba, who was boisterous and loud but was a good kid at heart, and was a few months older than Datusko.            On returning to Konohagakure, they reported in to the Hokage, and he welcomed Datsuko to the village. She had bowed respectfully and thanked him, but otherwise remained silent. Afterwards, they returned to the Inuzuka household, where Tsume had almost immediately given her a bath to get rid of the dirt that had accumulated on their way back from Kirigakure, in addition to that already on her. Then she had changed her clothes, been introduced to the dogs, who after sniffing her once ignored her, and was then shown to the room she would be sharing with Hana. It was as Tsume was about to leave Datsuko to fully unpack her few belongings that the girl spoke unprompted for the first time.            “Tsume-obasama.” Tsume turned in the doorway, surprised that Datusko was speaking. “Please, you and your family don’t need to use your chakra up to look for me all the time. Even Otousan couldn’t find me sometimes. If… if you can make sure that there’s food and … ne-necess- things I need, then I can look after myself.” The tiny girl looked deadly serious, and it was hard to believe that she was only just six years old.            Tsume smiled. “I’ll try to look after you better than that, but if I don’t and you need something, just make sure you get my attention, okay?” The girl thought for a moment, and then nodded. “Dinner’s at seven,” Tsume told her, and then left, closing the door behind her.

Chapter 3 – Settling In Tsume, unintentionally, did not look after her better than that.            This left Datsuko to her own devices for the majority of the time, which she was perfectly content with. She spent the days before she was to be enrolled in the academy wandering the village and the surrounding areas, completely unhindered by any.            She had learnt a long time ago about her family's kekkei genkai, Gimantekimuu, and accepted its repercussions quite happily. Her mother had recently begun to teach her about consciously controlling the strength of the jutsu and how to overcome the barriers it produced, ready for schooling, when she had been killed in action.            Datsuko had also been aware of the dangers of the ninja life for a long time, and although it had shocked her somewhat, she had coped with the death of her entire family. Unsure of what to do, she had investigated, and discovered Kiri's benefits system for orphans. Although the offices had been in chaos and confusion due to the mysterious disappearance of the Mizukage, she had been able to acquire, unnoticed as usual, a form and laboriously fill it in. Two days after she had submitted it, a jounin showed up on the doorstep, and things had gone from there.            She was very grateful to Tsume for taking her in. After all, no one else would have looked after her, or made sure she had an education. There was only so much that she could teach herself. The fact that the family ignored her for the most part didn't really bother her much. Hiding from the dogs was good practice at controlling her Gimantekimuu. And it was as Datsuko wandered around unnoticed that two incidents occurred that piqued her interest. 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0            The first was the case of a small blond boy.            On her second full day in the village, she had been working to memorise the streets and shops in the centre of Konoha, and as she had been making her way down the main street when the people around her had started turning their heads and whispering to each other. Hearing comments like, "It's that boy," and, "Darling, keep away from him," Datsuko slipped through the crowd to see what the fuss was about.            A tiny, obviously neglected blond boy trudged down the street. Every time he heard and identified the speakers, he shot an angry scowl at them, causing them to recoil.            Datsuko blinked in confusion at the reactions of the villagers. This was just some kid!            "Who is that boy?" someone behind her asked.            "You don't know? That's Uzumaki Naruto, and he's a cursed brat. He's the-"            "Haruhi, you know we're forbidden by law to talk about that!"            "Fine. But so you know, stay away from him; he's dangerous."            The blond – Naruto – glared at the three talking, and he muttered under his breath. "Well, lady, one day I'm gonna be Hokage, so you can shut up." As his eyes passed over Datsuko, she gave him a smile; but, like everyone else in the village she had seen so far, he didn't even register her existence, and carried on down the street, hands in his pockets.            Datsuko sighed, for once wishing that the Gimantekimuu could be deactivated entirely, and trotted onwards, mulling over reasons for the strange behaviour of the people towards this apparently harmless, under-fed boy. 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0            The second incident involved her discovery of one of the doujutsu kekkei genkai in Konoha.            She had been very pleased to find that Konoha had a river and a lake, and on finding the small pier, had made it her favourite place to sit after meandering around the area.            It was the last day of March, the day before the induction of new students to the academy. She was sat on the end of the pier, cooling her feet in the water – Konoha was too warm compared to Kiri – when footsteps came their way towards her. She thought nothing of it, expecting whoever it was to ignore her. She was quite surprised when they stopped and a voice asked her petulantly, "Who are you? You're sitting in my spot." Startled that she had been noticed, Datsuko turned to see a small boy, around her age, with dark eyes and hair spiked back. He looked comically annoyed, glaring at her with his arms crossed and tapping a foot on the wooden boards of the pier. The other was bound with a wet cloth around the ankle, like he'd injured it. "Well?" he asked.            She stared at him for a moment, and then turned to pick up her shoes. "My name is Ogawa Datsuko," she said, standing up and flicking the water off her feet. "I'm sorry for taking your place, but I'm new here, and I didn't realise." She slipped on her shoes, and bowed apologetically. "I'll go away."            Suddenly on a whim, she decided to try of one of the jutsu her mother had taught her. She briefly touched his arm as she walked past him. // You have good eyes… Uchiha Sasuke. ... See you in school tomorrow. //            Then, as his eyes widened, she increased the strength of the Gimantekimuu, and walked away.            Sasuke was left on the pier open-mouthed as he looked around trying to see the strange girl who had just spoken to him.            With her mind. 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0            That evening, Datsuko wondered about the boy as she lay in bed. She had heard of both of the village's doujutsu kekkei genkai, although she only knew of them through a children's rhyme taught to the Ogawa children. "Facing white eyes that see through all, Don't think yourself safe behind your deceptive wall. The owners of these can see you and I, The possessors of the Byakugan eye. Facing red eyes and black tomoe, Run away, flee away, speed away, hide away, Even we, to them, will be no surprise, The possessors of the Sharingan eyes."            It was supposed to be a warning that there were those who could see through the Gimantekimuu. However, further details of the users, such as the clans with the abilities, and tactics to combat them weren't taught until genin level, and then by a senior Ogawa nin.            That probably wasn't going to happen.            It was also the first time that she'd tried to use the jutsu on someone out of the family. The concept was simple.            If the senses didn't send messages to the brain confirming the existence of something, then the obvious way to communicate was to bypass the senses entirely and go straight to the mind. The simplest method was to create a dispelling seal on the body of the user, activated by contact with another, and send messages through the chakra system. Information and messages on the chakra system could also be read. There were variants that increased in complexity and effectiveness, but those were going to have to be self-taught.            Datsuko sighed, and tried to go to sleep.

Chapter 4 – Enrolment Ceremony The next morning, Datsuko followed Tsume and Kiba to the academy for the enrolment ceremony. Because Tsume was now her legal guardian, she was acting as the family member for both children. Kiba was bouncing up and down like he was high on sugar, gabbling on about how he was going to be the best ninja the Inuzuka clan had ever had, and how he'd help the pack by being so awesome, and how he'd outdo Hana, and how he'd make his mum proud, and… Datsuko merely smiled at his antics, already completely used to the loud, rash but well-intentioned boy. He hadn't sensed her presence once – apart from when the two were forced to shake hands at introductions – unlike that Uchiha boy…            They turned into the academy, and Tsume checked off both Kiba and Datsuko's names on the list of entrants; even if the others couldn't sense Datsuko, Tsume had activated her hanajutsu, and knew that she was there. The chuunin looking after the list blinked, as he only saw one child, but waved Tsume on.             As Datsuko took her place in the playground, she took the opportunity to look around at the other entrants to the academy. They were lined up in alphabetical order, in nine lines of ten students. She was standing near the back of the fifth line, behind a bored-looking boy who was staring skywards, hands in his pockets. His hair, pulled back in a high, spiky ponytail, tickled her face briefly, his head was tilted so far back. She giggled slightly, and took a step backwards, but he merely continued looking up at the clouds.            She could see Kiba a few lines over, fidgeting behind a tiny, blue-haired girl, whose eyes were fixed on the ground as a tall, long-haired man spoke to her. Datsuko balked slightly when the man moved away from the girl, and looked directly at her. He has white eyes!</i? Then his gaze moved onwards disdainfully, and she relaxed a little.            Looking in the other direction, she could see Uchiha Sasuke. He looked… uncomfortable. Underneath the obvious irritation yesterday, he had felt upset at something, although she hadn't probed any further into his mind to discover what the cause was. Now he was standing stock-still, his eyes flitting around distractedly. Datsuko scanned the crowd for whoever was with him, and located the most likely candidate. A rather stern-looking man, he had his arms folded and his eyes closed, and certainly didn't seem to be focusing on the events around him.            To her surprise, the scrawny blond kid was standing behind the Uchiha, looking quite pleased with himself despite the glares of the parents and the hostile glances of some of the children. Datsuko hadn't seen anyone in the crowd who resembled him at all, but she looked again to see if there was anyone watching him without a glare. Nobody was.            Maybe he was like her.            Or maybe he didn't have anyone at all.            When Datsuko glanced over at Tsume, her gaze was mainly directed at Kiba, but it did slip to Datsuko once while she watched, accompanied by a smile. Datsuko smiled back, a little shyly, but then turned as a chuunin called for silence.            What followed was a series of speeches and introductions from the teachers, whose names Datsuko memorised. Then the Hokage spoke for a little, finishing with, "Everyone, congratulations on entering, From this day forth, please work hard to follow the shinobi way." With that, everyone applauded him politely, and then began to break up, children rushing back to parents excitedly. Some of them – the Uchiha and his father included – went to speak with the teachers, while others chatted avidly to each other.            Somewhat unsure of what to do, Datsuko remained where she was while people pushed past her. She noticed with concern that the blond – Naruto – also stood in his place while the other children went to their parents and avoided him.            Looking in the other direction, she was surprised to see that the blue-haired girl was also standing where she had before, but actually looking at Datsuko. She had the same white eyes as the man who had been talking to her earlier. Datsuko smiled shyly at her, and was perturbed when the girl started to return it, then stopped and averted her eyes.            Then a shadow fell over Datsuko, and she looked upwards to see that the white-eyed man was leaning over her. He did not look friendly. Choosing courtesy to cover her fear, she turned to face him properly, and bowed respectfully. "Konnichiwa, O-sama," she said.            He looked at her coldly, and then swept past to the girl. "Come, Hinata," he demanded, and the girl jumped nervously.            "H-hai, Otou-s-san!" She glanced back at Datsuko, and then hurried after her father as he went to talk to the Hokage. While Datsuko couldn't hear the conversation, it certainly didn't seem to be pleasant, as the girl's head sank lower and lower.            Suddenly a bell rang out, and the teachers started calling out for the children to be quiet while the classes were read out. The children turned from their parents to listen. The first teacher, a rather jolly-looking, slightly chubby man, who had been talking to the Uchiha – a Koimaru, if Datsuko remembered correctly – shouted out, "Class 1, in a line over here, alphabetical order please! Aburame Shino! Akimichi Chouji!" The list went on, and Datsuko found herself behind the same boy as before. He still looked bored. Then the teacher called for the students to follow him, and they walked into the academy where they would become ninja.

Chapter 5 – Introductions The pupils were brought into a classroom, but instead of taking seats at the obviously well-used desks, they were lead to the area at the front of the classroom, and instructed to sit down in a circle, still in order. Then to fill in the space between the first and last person, the teacher plopped himself down on the floor with them. He beamed around at the class.            "Well!" he said. "Welcome to the academy! I'm Mizure Koimaru, and I'll be your teacher for this year. Now, I want to get everyone to know each other, so I want you to say what your name is, something interesting about yourself and something you'd like to do in the future. Then I want to next person in the circle to repeat everything that's been said before, and then talk about themselves, then moving on again, and so on. Do you understand?" There was generally nodding around the class, although there were some scowls.            "Tch. How troublesome." This came from the boy next to Datsuko.            "Why do we have to do this? It's babyish, and you should be teaching us to be ninja!" Datsuko looked back towards the teacher, and saw that, three places from him, Uchiha Sasuke was pouting again, looking annoyed. Next to him, the blond kid folded his arms and nodded.            "Yeah, sensei! I'm gonna be Hokage someday. I don't need to waste time playing games!"            The teacher remained smiling, but seemed to refuse to look at the blond. "I am here to teach you all to be ninja. But ninja need to be able to rely on each other, and work as teams. The first step towards that is knowing your fellow students. This is also a good way to practise learning by listening. So," he said, looking down at the boy next to him, who had remained silent up to this point. "We'll start with you."            The boy, whose eyes were covered by black glasses, did not move anything more than his lips while he spoke. "My name is Aburame Shino. I am very interested in bugs. I would like to become an excellent shinobi and talented user of my family's jutsu."            The teacher shifted a little uncomfortably, but moved onto the next boy, who was… chubby, Datsuko decided was the polite way to put it. He was gently prompted by the teacher. "He is…?"            "He is A-bu-ra-me Shi-no, and he is… he likes bugs, and he wants to be an ex-ex-ex-"            "Excellent."            "-shinobi, and a ta-ta-"            "Talented."            "… he wants to be good at his family's jutsu."            The teacher accepted this cop-out. "And you…?"            The boy smiled. "I'm Akimichi Chouji, and I like eating my mum's cooking." A snigger was heard from one of the boys, and Chouji glared at him but continued. "And after I retire from being a ninja, I want to be Konoha's best cook!" He beamed at the class.            The children went on around the circle, each one working progressively harder to remember all of the names, and often compromising quotes for simpler things.            When they reached the blue-haired girl, she carefully and accurately repeated everything before her, albeit with a severe stutter, and then introduced herself. "H-hajime-m-mashite, m-minna-san… M-my name is H-Hyuuga Hinata, and I like p-pressing f-flowers. W-when I am older, I w-would like to b-be-c-come a … a k-kunoichi to m-make the H-Hyuuga cl-clan proud…" She seemed very flustered, looking distinctly upset as she said the last part.            Then it was Kiba's turn, and when he reached Hinata's name, he deliberately imitated her stutter, causing the poor girl to flush bright red in shame. Datsuko shot her a sympathetic glance, which she missed as she stared at the floor. He laughed it off, and introduced himself loudly. "I'm Inuzuka Kiba, and I share a house with my parents, sister, a cousin who's never there and four dogs, plus half the family's dogs end up around our place sometime! When I get my own dog, we'll be the best man-dog team the village has ever seen!"            A few turns later, they reached the boy next to her. Given the lack of attention he seemed to be paying, Datsuko was surprised when he simply sighed, and repeated everything word for word, introduced himself as Nara Shikamaru, said he liked watching clouds and wanted to go to sleep.            She was amused by his bluntness, and began to speak herself when the person on the other side of her started talking. Glancing at the teacher, she saw that he obviously hadn't registered her presence, sitting there smiling at the girl recalling names.            Datsuko was unsurprised.            However, she wasn't the only person to have noticed.            Both Sasuke and Hinata were looking between herself and Koimaru rather confusedly, and Sasuke was about to raise his hand when Datsuko smiled and shook her head. He frowned, and Hinata looked concerned, but neither spoke up.            The introductions went without hitch until they reached Sasuke, who looked rebellious. However, on being told that Itachi-sama (whoever that was) had done it, he brightened up considerably, and gave the names and information word for word. "I'm Uchiha Sasuke, and I like training because I want to be as good as my big brother, and when I grow up I'm going to join the police force!" Then, when the blond next to him refused to take part, Sasuke poked him. Naruto turned to glare at Sasuke, who merely looked back at him. "Your turn, silly." The blond glowered, and Sasuke smiled.            Then Naruto jumped up, and defiantly shouted, "I don't need to play silly games, I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and I'm gonna be Hokage one day!" A large number of the students tittered or glared at him, and the teacher snapped at him to sit down. He scowled at the class, and reluctantly dropped back to the floor. Then, catching sight of Sasuke smiling again, he started having a go at the dark-haired boy. "What are you smiling at?"            Sasuke blinked. "You," he answered honestly, without malice.            "Yeah? Well, you people all think you're so much better than me, you're the ones who are stupid!"            Sasuke, previously unaggressive, was now riled. "If you can't even try in a simple game, you're the stupid one."            "Bastard!"            "Stupid."            "Naruto, stop arguing with Sasuke-kun!" Koimaru said. Datsuko raised her eyebrows, noticing the lack of an honorific for Naruto, and the one-sided reprimand. This rudeness was obviously not lost on everyone, and the Hyuuga girl frowned slightly.            The circle was completed by a blonde girl who said she like flowers, and then Koimaru sent them back around the other way, this time saying something the didn't like and their favourite food. Naruto immediately chose Sasuke as the thing he disliked, and proclaimed his love for ramen. Sasuke responded in kind, saying he didn't like Naruto, and the blond swore at him. Sasuke merely smirked, and was rather surprised when the boy launched himself at him, trying to pin him to the ground. He reacted almost immediately, untwisting his legs from their crossed position, jerking them upwards as he rolled backwards, sending the blond crashing head-over-heels into the space rapidly vacated by two quick children.            Kiba jumped up, and started shouting. "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" Several other boys joined in, clapping.            "Naruto! Out of the classroom now!" the teacher said, stabbing a finger at the door. "And you boys, sit down and be quiet!"            "But-" Naruto tried to object as he prised himself off the floor.            "No! You do not fight against your fellow nin outside of sparring!"            Standing up, Naruto rubbed the back of his head where it had made contact with the floor. "Bastard-sensei," he said under his breath as he turned to the door.            "That does it! After-school detention!" All jollity was lost from the teacher as he dealt out the punishment.            Naruto stomped sulkily out of the classroom, a scowl plastered on his features, earning a few titters from the class. Before closing the door, he shot one last glare at Sasuke, who had just flipped himself back up into his sitting position. It was returned by an infuriatingly innocent smile. Then he slammed the door shut.            Datsuko looked back around the circle, and was rather unsettled to see so many smiles at the boy's punishment. A few admiring glances were also being sent Sasuke's way – mainly by the girls – but he was ignoring them, staring at the door Naruto had just slammed without any trace of a smile on his face anymore. Hinata was also frowning slightly at the door.            The teacher then gave the class a brief lecture on behaviour, and then set the game off again. It finished without noticeable incident, although Datsuko was missed out again. This time Sasuke and Hinata were too busy staring at the door to notice, and Hinata nearly missed her turn.            The teacher then sent the class to choose seats, not minding who sat next to who. Datsuko followed Hinata, who sat herself near the back, but stiffened when she saw Datsuko again. Datsuko blanched, suddenly afraid of rejection from one of the only people who had noticed her. "Hyuuga Hinata, right?" The girl nodded. "Um… is this seat taken?"            The blue-haired girl shook her head slightly. "D-damme. N-nob-body has t-taken that s-seat." For a six-year-old with a stutter, she spoke very formally, and with a cultured accent.            Datsuko smiled. "Then do you mind if I sit here?"            After a slight pause, the girl shook her head again. "D-damme." Datsuko slid herself into the seat next to her. Hinata looked down. "Gomennasai," she said, Datsuko looked curiously at her, not sure what the apology was for. "O-Otou-san… H-he obj-jected t-to your p-p-presence, as h-he s-said you w-were from K-Kiri-g-gakure." She started fidgeting with her hands. "B-but then, Otou-san ob-objects to m-most things," she said quietly. Then she looked up at Datsuko. "Go-gomennasai, I do not know your name. Th-they," she said with a slight frown, "they missed you out."            "Ogawa Datsuko, from Kirigakure, like your father said," Datsuko introduced herself. "I'm here because I'm an orphan, but related to the Inuzuka. And why they missed me out…" she said, tapping the side of her nose. "That's more than I can explain before the less—" she broke off as the classroom door slid open, and Naruto was frogmarched back in by a slightly irritated looking teacher. It wasn't clear whether his annoyance was directed at Naruto or Koimaru.            Koimaru introduced the teacher as Umino Iruka, who nodded at the class before having a hushed but clearly annoyed discussion. It ended with Koimaru reluctantly pointing Naruto to a seat next to the Aburame boy, well away from Sasuke, who had ended up in front of Datsuko and Hinata and next to Kiba. Iruka looked satisfied, and left the classroom, smiling at Naruto. The blond boy blinked in surprise, but then grinned at the door as it closed. "Thanks Iruka-sensei!" he shouted. Then he sauntered over to the seat, and sat there smiling.            Datsuko turned back to Hinata to finish what she had been saying, but stopped as she saw the girl was still staring at the blond. She tilted her head, watching the girl's face, and then smiled in faint realisation. Aww… I think she likes him. Then she poked her gently, both snapping her back to reality with a start and confirming the sense of happiness.            "Ah! G-gomennasai," she said.            "Don't worry. I was just going to say," she said, raising her voice slightly, "that I would take questions of that nature at break. That goes for the eavesdroppers too."            The Uchiha in front of them started slightly, but nodded in recognition.            The teacher then started talking about assessing the students' current abilities, and the class got down to work.

Chapter 6 – First Friends            The bell rang for break, and Koimaru dismissed the class.  Sasuke packed away his belongings, and got up to leave the class. He casually sauntered up the steps to the door, glancing at the girls sitting behind him and the Inuzuka as he passed them. The strange one – Datsuko – nodded slightly at him as she saw, and continued putting her possessions back in her bag.            As he walked out of the door, he heard a couple of boys talking.            "That kid's an Uchiha, right?"            "Yeah."            "So that means he must be awesome, eh?"            Sasuke felt a sense of pride wash over him as he thought of just how amazing his brother was, and how everyone knew that the Uchiha clan was great. Then he felt a little sad as he thought about how his father gave Itachi so much preferential treatment, and expected Sasuke to be like him. Then he smiled, remembering how Itachi was on a mission that would get him into ANBU, and silently wished him a little luck.            Sasuke looked around the playground, taking in the various areas. The main yard. A few trees and some swings were in a corner. Some benches were placed around the edges of the playground, and Sasuke picked one in the shade of some trees, visible from the entrance to the school. Other children began to come out as he walked over to it, some of them much older than him; the school took students until they became genin, although they normally didn't let students remain after failing the exam after their fifth go at sixteen. There didn't seem to be any that old around this year, unless they were still inside. Sasuke sat down on the bench, and waited.            Hearing a giggling noise, he looked up to see some of the girls in his class standing a little way away, chatting excitedly. He watched them disinterestedly, until one of them – a blonde, Yamanaka Ino if he remembered correctly – looked over at him, turned back to the group and started whispering and giggling. He then kept a cautious eye on them, not entirely sure how to react to this strange behaviour. It made him a little uncomfortable, to say the least.            A moment later, Datsuko and Hinata sat down next to him, and the girls turned to stare at the Hyuuga, making her hang her head in embarrassment. Datsuko whispered, "Ignore them, Hinata-chan. If it makes you feel any better, get out a book and pretend to read. Then they won't think anything of it." Hinata opened her bag, which she had brought with her, and got out a book on basic genjutsu, and pretended to read.             "Arig-gat-tou, Datsuko-san," she said, looking a little less uncomfortable.            Datsuko waved it off. "You don't need to be so formal, Hinata-chan." Then she looked between Sasuke and Hinata. "So… what do you want to know? I can't answer everything, but I'll try."            Sasuke kept his eyes on the gaggle of girls as he spoke, thinking carefully over what he wanted to know. "Ogawa Datsuko, right?"            "Yup."            "That's not a name from Konoha."            "Nope. That's because I'm from Kiri."            Sasuke frowned. "Then… why are you here?"            "I'm an orphan." The girl said it so bluntly that Sasuke turned to stare at her, shocked, before then feigning interest in his surroundings again. "However, I'm related by blood to the Inuzuka, so they were asked to take me in. I'm the cousin Kiba-hatoko claims is never there," she said, looking a little embarrassed on behalf of the oblivious boy.            Sasuke was silent for a moment as he thought that over. Then he nodded. "'kay. So why is it only me and Hyuuga-sama who can see you?"            Datsuko blinked, and then turned to look at the blue-haired girl, who was still 'reading' her book. "Hyuuga-sama?"            Hinata blushed. "H-Hai. Uchiha-s-sama is c-correct. A-as I am th-the heir-ress to th-the nob-ble H-Hyuuga clan, m-most p-p-people are exp-pected to ad-address me f-formally. A-as a ch-child of th-the h-head of the Uch-chiha cl-clan, I sh-should also ad-address Uchiha-s-sama f-formally."            Datsuko tilted her head around so that she was leaning in front of the blue-haired girl, and although Sasuke couldn't see her face, when she spoke she sounded a little concerned. "And do want you us to call you Hyuuga-sama?"            Hinata was silent for a moment, but then shook her head almost imperceptibly. "Damme," she said quietly. "I-it s-sounds … cold."            "Hinata-chan it is then. And you," she said, turning to face Sasuke, "what do you want us to call you?"            Sasuke blinked, and then shrugged. He didn't really expect people to call him anything fancy; that was for his father, and maybe for his brother, but not for him, who was barely acknowledged by the stern head of the clan. "I'm fine with Sasuke-kun or Sasuke."            "Then we're settled."            "You still haven't answered my question."            "I haven't, have I?" Sasuke frowned a little as Datsuko settled herself more comfortably on the bench. "Okay, I'm going to assume that you guys come from the families with the Sharingan and Byakugan kekkei genkai." Sasuke nodded, and saw Hinata mimicking the action. "Then you know how kekkei genkai work." He nodded again. "Well, your kekkei genkai aren't the only ones. My family has one too: the Gimantekimuu, or deceptive existence."            Sasuke was puzzled, not understanding what the brown-haired girl meant. "Deceptive existence?" he asked. "But-"            "It means that people can't sense my presence without the help of jutsu or amazingly good senses. Or…" she trailed off, and Sasuke saw that she was looking a little frustrated as she worked out how to explain it. "It's more complicated than that. It's not that they can't, it's just that… they don't. They ignore me. It's like… if you look at a forest, you don't notice each tree – they just blend into a bunch of trees. So they look but they don't see, if that makes sense. I'm just another face in the crowd, another kid in the class. They won't pay me any attention without prompting or a reason. You guys can see me because you have doujutsu kekkei genkai; and even without activation, your eyesight is good enough to be able to focus on me." Datsuko was then quiet for a little while as she let Sasuke and Hinata take this in.            Sasuke's mind raced as he pondered over what he had been told. It was just… ridiculous. People just… couldn't see her? That's stupid. But then… she did 'vanish' yesterday… what did she-            His thoughts were interrupted by Hyuu- Hinata quietly asking Datsuko, "S-so n-nobody knows you e-even ex-xist?"            Datsuko shook her head gently. "A few people know. Tsume-oba-sama makes sure that I have what I need, and I look after myself. I'm now on record. You guys know. It doesn't bother me too much."            "B-but that's awf-ful!            Datsuko shrugged. "Like I said, it doesn't bother me. I've been taught about it since I was able to understand it. I expect to be alone." She smiled a little, and looked at Sasuke and Hinata. "The fact that I have two people in my class who can see me is way more than I could hope for."            Looking down at the ground, Sasuke wondered what it must have been like for the girl to lose her family. He couldn't imagine it at all. Even if Itachi was the star of the clan, most of his family acknowledged him, and to lose that familial friendship… He shuddered, and hoped he'd never have to witness anything close to what the brown-haired girl seemed to be taking in her stride. He didn't think he'd be able to cope. But then… she wasn't exactly peaceful when… yesterday… Maybe she wasn't so calm about it.            His face must have conveyed some of his discomfort without his realisation, as Datsuko turned to look at him. He blinked, and then tried to work out how to phrase the question about…what she'd done the day before. "Ah… How…" He trailed off, perplexed as to how to put it without sounding idiotic. Like that blond twit, Naruto… He had noticed that the kid was sitting on his own on one of the swings hanging from a tree, watching the world sadly. Sasuke had tried to put him out of his mind, but had found he was thinking about the boy again.            He was jerked back to the conversation when Datsuko gently placed a hand on his wrist.           // You want to know how I did this, right? //            Sasuke flinched as the message passed through his mind in an instant. He nodded outwardly. "Yeah. That."            Hinata looked up. "Sumimasen… Nani?"            As Datsuko placed her other hand on Hinata's arm, Sasuke felt a tiny flicker of something in her mind, faint but a little worried. Then it vanished after a tiny flare, and Datsuko mentally poked him away. // Heey… no peeking. //            // You can talk, // he replied.            // That wasn't peeking, that was taking in surface info you weren't hiding. //            // Whatever. //            The girl laughed aloud, and Sasuke allowed himself a small smile.            A faint echo of Datsuko talking to the other girl passed through to him, and she jumped violently, dropping her book, and stared at Datsuko, white eyes wide with shock. "N-nani? How?"            Datsuko removed her hands from the two of them, and looked downwards at her lap. She sighed, and tried to explain. "It's complicated, and to be honest, I need to read up on a lot of it. But the idea is that if the brain doesn't notice something via the senses, then you have to send messages to it directly."  Sasuke frowned a little, not certain what she meant, and saw that the blue-haired girl looked as clueless as he felt. Datsuko looked skywards for inspiration. "Um, how to put it… Oh! It's like knowing the postmen are on strike, so you hand-deliver a letter. Does that make more sense?" Sasuke's expression cleared up in enlightenment, the silly comparison making it surprisingly easy to understand. He nodded, and Datsuko looked relieved. "Good. Well, my family's jutsu to overcome the Gimantekimuu is basically mind-communication, and bonds to dispel the effects. We call them Kiton – mind style – even though it isn't an element. Messages are sent though the chakra system by bonds, so we can talk and exchange information with others even if they wouldn't normally see or hear us. Pretty cool, huh?"            Feigning indifference to cover his jealousy at such a cool technique, Sasuke sniffed and looked back over the playground… to see the blond kid looking really depressed. He even considered getting up to see if he was okay, but…            "You're t-telep-path-thic?"            "I guess. But it's all jutsu."            "Sugoi…" the blue-haired girl breathed out in awe.            "Huh." Sasuke folded his arms. "Well, I guess that's pretty cool. But you don't stand a chance against the Sharingan or Byakugan, right?"            "Right." The bell rang to call the students back to class, and Datsuko stood up. "If you guys wanted to kill me, I'd be dead." She turned back to the two, who were also getting up. "But I don't want to be enemies with the only people who'll notice me." She looked a little resigned, and Sasuke felt a little stab of sadness for her, but then she smiled again, and held out a hand. "Friends?"            Sasuke and Hinata both stared at the hand for a moment, as they considered her. She seems a really nice person… And ignoring the fact that she talks mind-to-mind, she's not creeping me out, unlike those girls over there… and the Hyuuga girl seems okay as well. I hope she doesn't turn out too much like her dad though. …I'll take a chance. He stepped forward, and took her hand. "Friends."            // Thank you, Sasuke. // He felt her gratitude as her mind touched his lightly, and he smiled. Then she let go of his hand, and turned to Hinata, again offering her hand.            Hinata shyly took it, and nodded. "Hai. Friends."            Then the bell rang again, and the three hurried back to class.

Chapter 7 – Initial Assessments            After break, they went through some simple mathematic and literacy skills tests, and although Sasuke found very little too tricky in the papers, when glancing around the class after he was finished he was a little surprised to see so many people looking stumped at the exam. Cautiously looking behind him while the teacher was sorting the papers for the next test, Sasuke had seen that Hinata and Datsuko were finished more than ten minutes before the end of the assessment. They appeared to be some of the more intelligent people in the class. Turning back to his own desk, he resisted the urge to smirk when he saw the boy next to him – Inuzuka Kiba – was stuck on a multiplication question and was counting on his fingers, mouthing the numbers as he went.            After lunch, the assessments continued. However, these ones were of more practical skills for ninja: stamina tests, shuriken throwing and sparring. Firstly, they were lead back into the playground, getting a sigh from some of the students. Koimaru then marked out a twenty-five metre length in the courtyard, and told all of them to run up and down as many times as they could at a reasonable pace. Some of the boys dashed off, Naruto and Kiba included, and Sasuke saw Datsuko shake her head out of the corner of his eye as he set off at a moderate pace, smart enough to know he would wind himself if he ran too fast. However, some of the students did the opposite, ambling reluctantly along until they were ordered to run.            After a few lengths heading the group of sensible runners, Sasuke started to pull ahead as the rest started to slow down. Looking around, he realised that the only one of the students who dashed off was still running: Naruto. The others were all sitting at one end of the track, bent over with stitches and trying to catch their breath.            Soon, only Sasuke and Naruto were running, and Sasuke was trying not to admit that he was impressed by the blond's stamina, when said blond punched the air, shouted, "Twenty lengths!" and tripped, falling flat on his face. The class burst into laughter, with the exceptions of Hinata, who looked appalled; Datsuko, who glared at the teacher when he calmly noted down the total and summarily ignored the boy; and Sasuke, who was too out of breath to do anything but run if he was going to beat that clumsy twit.            Naruto lifted his face, grinning and laughing with the rest of the class. Then he rolled himself over so he was sitting, and closed his eyes.            Sasuke drew to a stop. "Twenty-two," he told the teacher breathlessly, and as Koimaru noted it down and started to shepherd the applauding class to the target range, he just stood next to the blond, trying to catch his breath.            Naruto tried to get up to follow the class. As he tried to put weight on his right leg, it twisted under him, his knee slamming back down on the ground, and as Sasuke straightened up he saw a grimace of pain cross the previously smiling face.            Sasuke looked at him, feeling a little sorry for Naruto, and extended a hand. The blond blinked as the hand entered his field of vision, but after glancing up at the owner he looked away stubbornly. "I'm fine, teme, I don't need your help!" He tried to get up again, but this time before his leg gave way Sasuke grabbed his arm.             "Moron. You don't have to be so stubborn, you'll get hurt."            The whiskered face stared up at him, looking as surprised as he felt at what he'd just said. Then Naruto scowled. "Oi, teme, I'm not a moron!"             "Only a moron would try and walk on an injured leg and refuse help."             "Oh yeah? Well… hmph." Naruto looked away again, but Sasuke could see a smile twitching the corners of the boy's mouth upwards.            Sasuke hid his own smile and sighed. "Come on," he said, tugging Naruto in the direction the rest of the class had gone. "Or they'll start without us, …dobe."            "Teme."            "Whatever."            Sasuke helped Naruto around to the back of the school building, where the teacher had just finished explaining the assessment. As the Aburame boy stepped forward onto the range, Sasuke let go of Naruto's arm, given that his injury seemed to have vanished already, and looked at Datsuko questioningly. "Six shuriken, that target, try and hit a bull's-eye," she said. Sasuke nodded, and repeated the instructions to Naruto, who hadn't noticed her or her words and was about to yell at the teacher to tell him what was going on. Naruto shut up and grinned, probably eager to show off what he must presume to be his 'awesome ninja-skills'. Snorting softly, Sasuke turned to watch as he waited for his turn.            The process went fairly slowly, as Koimaru had to total up all of the scores and make notes on each student's technique. A cheer went up from the class whenever anyone hit a bull's-eye or close to one, although nobody really noticed when Datsuko was called up and hit a chance one, her other five shuriken landing in the outer circles. The teacher looked completely stumped, both when he called out her name from his list, and when it came down to writing notes. Is she really that hard to notice? Sasuke wondered as he saw Koimaru's puzzled expression. However, the teacher totalled up the points scored, wrote it down, and called up the next student. As Datsuko came back to stand between Sasuke and Hinata, he gave her a pointed look.            She shrugged. "I told you they need prompting and hardly notice me anyway," she said, a neutral expression on her face. Sasuke frowned, but went back to watching the other students.            "Uchiha Sasuke!"            Sasuke walked forward, taking the practice shuriken from the teacher. Settling into the textbook throwing stance, he paused a moment, testing the weight of the projectiles – slightly lighter than the ones Itachi-niisan let him use, he thought – and ignored the twinge in his left ankle reminding him of the last time he practiced throwing dangerous objects the day before. The he collected himself, and threw all six shuriken in quick succession, each one making a satisfying thok as the points buried themselves deeply in the target. A tight but pleased smile on his face, Sasuke turned to go back to his place, two bull's-eyes and four near misses behind him.            After a moment of stunned silence, the class burst into applause and whoops. The teacher gave Sasuke an approving smile before shushing the class and calling Naruto up. The blond scowled a little at Sasuke as he walked past, but Sasuke merely smiled at him.            The class sniggered as Naruto comically tried to imitate Sasuke, failing magnificently. Even Sasuke smiled a little at how awful the clown was. Then, with a flourish, the blond threw his shuriken forcefully at the target. He paused as only two of the six throwing-stars hit the target, and only one of those was anywhere near the centre. Then he turned to the class, a grin on his face and scratching the back of his head. "Eheheh… I meant to miss that! All of them hit where I aimed, 'cos going for more different targets shows I'm an awesome ninja!" The class laughed at that, although the teacher looked disapproving, and Naruto joined in as well, sucking up the attention. Sasuke shook his head, pretending to be annoyed with the blond, when a genuinely serious face caught his eye.            Datsuko had her eyes narrowed as she watched Naruto laughing, although she didn't look angry, just… thoughtful. Sasuke nudged her. "What is it?" The girl's eyes narrowed further, but then she shook her head and put on a neutral expression.            "Nothing, don't worry about it."            Sasuke did worry about it. But he didn't say anything.            Once the last person had taken their turn, Koimaru-sensei announced that the last part of the assessments would be a two-minute sparring session with another student in the class. Punches were to be pulled, and no serious damage was allowed to be inflicted, but otherwise there were no rules, other than that if one person gave up the other must stop fighting immediately.            Some of the fights were… interesting, Sasuke mused. Some were quite dull, like most of those between the girls, although he became somewhat uncomfortable when the self-declared 'winners' started looking over at him, trying to get his attention. He tried to ignore them, but they creeped him out. He was not interested in girls.            However, some of the matches were interesting to watch. His newfound companions Datsuko and Hinata were paired up, and while neither of them exactly landed a hit on the other, their styles of fighting were mesmerising. Sasuke knew about the Hyuuga's Jyuuken style, but had never seen it in action before, and marvelled at how fluid and fast it was, even more surprised when he found out afterwards that she'd only been learning for a few months and was still very slow. Datsuko's style… wasn't a fixed style that Sasuke could think of, and seemed more like improvised dancing. Whatever it was, it was fast and, when developed, looked like it could be pretty deadly.            The other match that piqued Sasuke's interest was the one between Naruto and the Inuzuka boy. They seemed to fight quite similarly, both going for hard fast moves, quite wild really. Kiba seemed to employ more wrestling techniques though, while Naruto used his legs for kicks more. The two seemed matched overall in skill, although in different areas, but it was fairly clear that Kiba was stronger and had some experience of fighting. The fight ended after two minutes, Naruto having taken the worst of it despite the rule of pulling punches.            Sasuke's own fight was unremarkable. He clearly outmatched his opponent, and landed several 'strikes' while guarding against attacks. On each 'hit', several people whooped, and one or two of the girls called out encouragement to him. He ignored them.            After all fifteen matches, the bell rang again, and Koimaru dismissed them for the day.

Chapter 8 – Going Home When Sasuke got home after school, he was in high spirits. He'd officially started on the path to becoming a ninja, seemed to be the best in his class and had made some friends. He dashed home, a smile on his face, eager to tell his family about his day. He skidded to a stop outside his house, hurriedly took off his sandals and rushed into the kitchen where he threw his arms around his mother's waist, knocking her into one of the kitchen cupboards. "I'm home!" he said, smiling up at her.            His mother, Mikoto, looked down. "I think I can see that, Sasuke-kun, and the sharp pain in my knees is telling me that you're very excited about something!"            Sasuke's smile dropped and his eyes widened. "I'm sorry, Kaa-san!" he said, looking the picture of sorrow. "I didn't mean to hurt you!" He let go of Mikoto, a smile creeping back onto his face as he spun himself around on the balls of his feet. "I was just really really happy!"            Mikoto smiled, and washed her hands, Sasuke still spinning himself. "Don't worry, Sasuke-kun, I was only teasing," she said, drying her hands. She turned back to Sasuke, who was now still and pouting. "Mattaku." Taking his hand, she said, "You need to stop taking things so seriously, like your father and Itachi-kun." Mikoto tugged his hand gently. "Come on; you can tell me about your day out in the garden."            The two sat down on the decking outside, where the soft plunk of the deer-chaser and the quiet trickle of water had a calming on influence on Sasuke, mellowing any momentary irritation he had towards his mother. His face was now fairly neutral, although his swinging legs betrayed his happiness.             "So, Sasuke-kun, how was your first day of school?"            Sasuke smiled. "It was great! All the tests were really easy, and even though I don't know how I did on the written ones, I was the best in the class for the running and shuriken tests!"            "Now, why doesn't that surprise me?" "Because Nii-san taught me?"            "Well, that too, but even Itachi-kun couldn't teach you if you weren't such a talented little boy."            Sasuke blushed a little, pleased by the comment, but pouted as he remembered the adults' views concerning the brothers. "Tou-san wouldn't say that. Everyone thinks I'm amazing because Nii-san is, and they just want me to be like him."            Mikoto pulled Sasuke onto her lap and wrapped her arms around him. "Well," she said, "I know that you're amazing because you're you, not your brother." Sasuke only blushed further at this, and looked away to hide his pleased embarrassment. Mikoto smiled, and then asked, "So, what else happened today?" "Um… I made some friends?"            "Oh? Who?"            "Ogawa Datsuko, Hyuuga Hinata and—" he hesitated, not sure if could call it friendship, "—Uzumaki Naruto."            Mikoto tensed a little as she heard the names. "Ogawa, Hyuuga and Uzumaki." Sasuke nodded. Hesitating, his mother eventually said, "Don't tell you father."            Sasuke blinked. "Why, Kaa-san?"            Sighing, Mikoto replied, "The Uchiha clan has rather… strained relationships with the Hyuuga and Ogawa, and you father would not want to hear that you were associating with the Uzumaki boy."            "Is it because people with the Sharingan can see the Ogawa?"            His mother looked down sharply at him. "Who told you that?"            "Datsuko-chan did. She said that if me or Hinata…-chan wanted to kill her, she'd be dead. But… I don't have the Sharingan yet, and she managed to hide from me. I don't think she knows that I don't have the Sharingan yet." Mikoto didn't reply to Sasuke for a moment, causing her to look up, concerned. "Kaa-san? What's wrong?"            "Sasuke-kun, stop talking about killing your friends, it's not nice."            Sasuke blinked, and then smiled. "So you're not angry?"            "No, I'm not angry with you for making friends. Just be careful around your father and the Ogawa girl's family."            Sasuke was silent for a moment, and then looked away before saying, "Her family's dead – that's why she's here."            The stunned silence told Sasuke that his mother was shocked. Then she found her voice. "Then who is she staying with?"             "The Inuzuka."            "Oh." There was a brief silence. "Then, I have no worries. But still, be wary of telling your father."            Sasuke mulled over this before his mother asked him about what happened in the rest of his day, and he told her. Afterwards, they sat in silence for a moment, before Sasuke asked, "Is Nii-san back?"            Mikoto shook her head. "Neither Itachi-kun or your father are home right now."            A sad expression flickered over Sasuke's face, but he quickly stood up, forcing a smile. "Okay, Kaa-san, I'm going to do some shuriken practice!" He then ran inside to find his sandals before heading off to train.             0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 When Hinata arrived at the academy gates after timidly smiling goodbye to her newfound friends, she found her cousin, Hyuuga Neji, and her escort, Hyuuga Kou – both Branch House members – waiting for her. They both bowed stiffly to her, and she returned the gesture before nervously glancing up at them. Neji seemed as cold as ever, not looking at her as he shifted his satchel to hang more comfortably. Kou was a little more courteous, asking her politely how her day was, and listening attentively through her stutter how she had made a couple of friends. When she told Kou that they were Uchiha Sasuke and Ogawa Datsuko, Neji's lip curled ever so slightly into a sneer, which Hinata noticed but chose not to pursue; the slight frown on Kou's face seemed only to confirm that she had not made the best choice in friends, and she quickly stopped talking. She hung her head and watched her feet as she walked, each step louder on the stone streets than those of her companions. She clasped her hands, trying not to fidget or worry about what her father would say to her, and trying to think of all the things that had gone well that day.            She… had not disgraced herself?            She certainly hoped she hadn't.            She had not found the written tests too hard?            As the heiress to the clan, she shouldn't have.            She had made good friends?            Evidently not.            Hinata felt tears pooling in her eyes as she imagined her father's responses to her report of the day. He would probably be as disapproving as he had always been in the last few months.            Since her mother died.            She sniffed, trying to hold back the tears, and she heard a quiet "Tch," from her cousin. She didn't have to look up to know what his expression would be.            The rest of the journey passed in silence, and as they arrived at the Hyuuga estate the guards either side of the imposing archway bowed to her. Increasing the angle of her stoop, Hinata returned the gesture before she was hurried inside the main building and into an anteroom to the formal meeting room, where she was instructed to wait with Neji until her father – his uncle – was available. Neji dutifully sat down on his knees, and composed himself calmly. Hinata also knelt, folding her hands demurely on her lap, and trying to take advantage of the quiet moment to meditate. She needed more practice to control her chakra, and calming before she faced her father would be beneficial. She began to breathe in and out slowly, trying to visualise the chakra in her body slowing down and moving to a steady trickle.            Her eyes closed, she was starting to feel calm when a whiskered face topped by blond hair popped into life before her eyes, startling her and making her gasp quietly, all control gone.            "Hinata-sama?"            Hinata looked up at the voice, to see Neji staring at her.            "Hinata-sama," he repeated, "are you alright?"            Forcing herself to try and breathe normally again, she nodded slightly. "H-hai, Neji-nii-san…"            Either satisfied or not caring if she was lying, Neji settled back down to await her father's arrival.            Hinata closed her eyes again, still slightly shaken by the image of the boy: Uzumaki Naruto. However, she couldn't focus on her meditation with Naruto's face in her mind, and she was sure her father would be even less approving of her interest in him; she'd been told before to stay away from the blond.            He had looked sad.            "Hinata. Neji."            Hinata's head jerked back up to see her father standing tall above her. She stifled a squeak of surprise, and bowed to him. "K-konnichiwa, Otou-san…"            "Konnichiwa, Hiashi-sama," Neji said courteously.            Hiashi knelt down in front of them. "Hinata, how was your first day at the academy?            "A-ano, Otou-san, i-it went well, th-thank you."            "What occurred?"            "E-etto… W-we took p-part in s-some activities s-so we c-could get to kn-know each other a little better, a-and then m-most of the day was t-taken f-for tests."            "What manner of tests?"            "L-literacy, n-numeracy and physical."            "How did you do?"            "I-I had little d-difficulty o-on the literacy a-and numeracy tests, a-and I did q-quite well on the physical tests."            "What were the results?" Each of Hiashi's questions came relentlessly, not pausing to comment on Hinata's report, or give any sign of approval or disapproval.            Hinata hesitated before answering, sure that her father would not be happy. "E-eto… K-Koimaru-sensei h-has n-not m-marked the p-papers yet…"            "And the physical assessments?"            Nervously looking up at her father, Hinata swallowed. "I-I m-managed t-ten lengths, I-I sc-scored t-twelve p-points on the sh-shuriken range a-and I p-performed f-fairly well i-in sp-sparring." As Hiashi's eyes hardened even further, Hinata flicked her eyes downward, afraid of what was to come next.            A silence followed before her father's controlled but cold voice questioned her again, making her even more nervous but not persuading her to look up. "And… what was the highest score, attained by whom?"            Hinata kept her head down as she quietly said, "U-Uchiha S-Sasuke, w-with t-twenty-two lengths a-and a sc-score of t-twenty-s-six on the shuriken range."            Hiashi was silent for a moment before speaking. "Who are you?"            Hinata tensed, familiar with the words her father made her say every time he felt she had forgotten her position. "I-I am Hyuuga Hinata, the f-first heiress t-to the Hyuuga c-clan, the st-strongest, m-most n-noble a-and w-wisest clan in the village of K-Konohagakure, a-and I sh-should act as s-such, w-working towards the b-betterment of m-myself and the c-clan."            "Do not forget it." Hiashi stood, his white robes swirling around him as he turned to leave.            "Hiashi-sama." Neji spoke calmly, and his uncle paused, waiting for him speak. "Do you not wish to know which of her classmates Hinata-sama has already associated with?"            Hiashi slowly turned back to face them, and Hinata cringed as she felt his gaze boring into the top of her head. Eyes on her, he levelly asked Neji, "Who?"            A barely disguised smug tone eased into Neji's voice as he answered, "Uchiha Sasuke and Ogawa Datsuko. And someone she has not mentioned."            Hinata felt her face heat slightly as she snapped her head to see Neji with an air of self-satisfaction around him. "N-Nii-san! Th-that is n-not true! I-I have n-not sp-spoken to a-anyone apart f-from S-Sasuke-k-kun a-and Datsuko-ch-chan o-out of l-lessons!"            Neji looked triumphant as Hiashi spoke. "Hinata." Hinata turned back to her father, trying not to panic. "Do you know who you have made 'friends' with?" He made the word sound rude.            Hinata nodded.            "Then you know that the Hyuuga have bad relations with the Uchiha and their intentions to ruin the village, and that the Ogawa are our enemies?"            Hinata nodded again.            "Then," Hiashi said, sounding slightly chagrined, "why?"            Cringing at the disappointment she could hear, Hinata stared at her lap. "B-because Datsuko-ch-chan w-was k-kind to me, a-and S-Sasuke-k-kun w-was n-nice enough." She quailed as she felt the atmosphere drop several degrees.            "You made 'friends' solely based on superficial actions." It wasn't a question, and the criticism stung like a slap in the face. "Have you considered that the Ogawa girl, who is a nemesis of both the Hyuuga and the Uchiha, is acting out of a desire for requital and lulling you into a delusory sense of security, or trying to corrupt you? Or that the Uchiha is working on behalf of his clan, debauching the youth of the village as his elder brother perverts his seniors?"            Trembling, Hinata tried to keep her composure, but it was stolen away by the gist of what her father was saying; even though she didn't know many of the words he used, she understood his meaning. Tears started to roll down her face, and she sniffed, not saying anything as she didn't trust her voice.            Hiashi was silent for a moment as he appraised the crying girl – his crying daughter – before standing. "Be ready for training at four o'clock." He turned, and stopped at the door. "Do not allow them to lead you astray."            Hinata looked up, surprised. "D-does that mean-" But he was already gone. After throwing a smirk in Hinata's direction, Neji got up and followed the patriarch, leaving Hinata in the anteroom, free to cry.            She did so.            After a few minutes curled up in a ball and crying, Hinata forced herself to stop snivelling, wiped her eyes on her sleeve and shakily stood up before picking up her schoolbag and slipping through the estate to find one of the only people who ever seemed happy to see her. It was likely that it was because she wasn't old enough to see the first heiress' mistakes and failings, but she didn't care.            Seeing her baby sister's beautiful smile was enough for Hinata.            As Hinata trotted down the corridor leading to the nursery, she heard the thin wail of her sister and increased her pace, worried that she had been left alone again. She stopped in front of the door, and timidly opened it, half expecting someone to be angry with her for being there. As it was, the room was empty of people, bare as usual, and with the white cradle in the centre of the room. The wailing quieted to a whimper as the door opened and shut, and Hinata dropped her bag, hurried over to the cradle, and leant over the edge. The whimpering stopped.            Hanabi was a beautiful baby. Large white eyes took in everything with curiosity, and her face was framed by soft dark brown hair, like her father's. As a smile cracked the chubby face, Hinata wondered how anyone could bear to see the child upset, and what it would be like to have her own baby. She gently stoked a tear-stained cheek with one finger, and Hanabi gurgled happily. Hinata smiled.            Struggling a little, the small girl lifted the baby out of the cradle, blankets and all, and held the heavy yet fragile bundle close to her as she carefully trod towards the door. She pulled it open with one foot as she caressed the dark downy hair of her sister, and was slightly startled by the appearance of Hanabi's nursemaid in the doorway.            "Hinata-sama!" The woman bowed to her. "I heard the child-"            "Hanabi-ch-chan," Hinata cut across, slightly upset by her sister being merely another baby.            "-Hanabi-sama, and came to investigate." She looked slightly worried. "Hinata-sama, are you sure you-"            "Sh-she was crying." To Hinata, her explanation seemed perfectly reasonable. Still, the nursemaid sighed and leant down to take Hanabi. Hinata shied away, pulling her sister closer, but the woman prised the baby away, although panic returned to her eyes when Hanabi started mewling again and tears formed in Hinata's eyes. As the volume of the wailing increased, the nursemaid looked between the two crying heiresses and slowly gave Hanabi back to Hinata.            The blue-haired girl clutched Hanabi protectively, smiled through her tears, inclined her head and whispered, "A-arigatou, Junko-san," before slipping out into one of the many gardens to watch the blossom-filled trees, and spend a little time with her sister before she went to the dojo for practice. 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0            Datsuko felt the need to stifle a smile as Kiba practically danced around his mother on the way home; if he had been a pup on a leash, Tsume's legs would have been tangled in moments. However, he wasn't, so he kept on darting around, retelling most of the day with wild gestures and exaggerated details. He pouted as he complained firstly at how hard the written tests were, and then grumbled about why super-ultra-cool ninja like him had to waste time writing and doing maths when they should be out on ultra-super-cool missions. Datsuko didn't quite stop the giggle escaping at this, seeing a similarity between her cousin and the blond he had sparred with, Uzumaki Naruto, but it wasn't as though anyone noticed it. The two boys were similar in many respects, it seemed.            But at least he didn't complain about the concept of teamwork, which was a good sign, she supposed.            By the time they reached home, Kiba had finished telling Tsume about his day, and begged her to let him run over to the Inuzuka-run Konoha Kennels to tell his father, Genshu Hiraku, and Hana if she was there. After a moment's hesitation, Tsume granted him permission on the basis that he was home by six, and told the others that dinner was at six-thirty. He eagerly agreed and dashed off, leaving his mother and cousin on the doorstep. Datsuko heard her aunt sigh as she unlocked the door, and reached up to touch her wrist. Tsume looked down at her, blinked, and then smiled.            "Ah, sorry, I was ignoring you again, wasn't I? How was school for you?"            "It went well, Tsume-oba-sama. I found the tests relatively easy, and due to their kekkei genkai I have made friends with Uchiha Sasuke and Hyuuga Hinata."            Tsume looked a little surprised, but then smiled as she led Datsuko inside. "I'm glad you've made friends. Maybe the families are too strict and traditional, but they make good ninja, and are good to work with once they get over their superiority issues."            Datsuko said nothing on the matter, and simply stared up at Tsume before showing her aunt, through the temporary bond their contact made, her moment of hesitation at letting Kiba go to see his father, and putting an enquiring presence behind it.            Tsume actually flinched, either at the mental contact or Datsuko's observation. She took a breath and looked like she was about to deny everything before she sighed, conceding to her niece.            "Your uncle and I are having a difficult patch, Datsuko." Tsume's eyes flickered to the room where the dogs usually slept. This did not go unnoticed, but Datsuko kept her thoughts to herself this time, drawing her own conclusions. Tsume forced a smile. "Now, why don't you go and do some shuriken practice? I need to check on Ami's bitch, Byakuko, since she's due any day…"            Datsuko was left standing in the living room while Tsume hurried off, concerned for her family's precious canines. Datsuko shrugged and padded upstairs to the room she shared with Hana, settling down with the Sudoku book she had bought with the pocket money Tsume allowed her, wondering whether her aunt and uncle would make up.

Chapter 9 – Late Nights If that night was anything to go by, they would not.            Datsuko was woken, about ten o'clock, by barking and whining, and voices from the dogs' room; more precisely, the whelping room. Wondering what was wrong, Datsuko slipped out of bed, noting that Hana was not in hers as she did so, and padded down the hallway. She walked straight into the room, pressing herself against the wall so she wasn't in the way, and silently watched.            The dog was having her puppies, and the family had come to watch.            Hana was kneeling by the labouring dog, doing things Datsuko didn't know about but made sense to help the birth. Tsume and Hiraku stood over her, occasionally whispering advice to their daughter, which she accepted readily. Kiba was fidgeting in the background, kept from interfering with the birth by Tsume's massive dog, Kuromaru. The bitch's owner also hovered in the background, concerned for her companion.            As each puppy was born, Hana helped the dog bite through the umbilical cord, and murmured the gender before passing the pup to her mother to be checked over and weighed. Hiraku made a note of all the details as his wife and daughter whispered them to him, a calculating look in his eye. Tsume would then gently lay the newborn back down with its mother, where it squirmed into her warmth blindly. The process would then start again as the contractions began for the next puppy.            "Bitch."            "Dog."            "Dog.            "Dog, but looks like it's got a bad paw."            "Bitch, looks like a runt."            And then it was over. The mother tiredly licked her puppies clean, and guided each one over to her teats so it could feed. Hana helped to clean the mess up, and the dogs in the room barked happily. Kiba started pestering his parents in the hope of being able to have one, which they refused, much to his annoyance. Leaving the happy owner with her dog and litter, Tsume, Hiraku, Hana and Kiba all left, going to the kitchen, with Datsuko trotting silently behind. Tsume and Hiraku were arguing in angry whispers, and they stepped out into the back garden as soon as Hana and Kiba had sat down, shutting the door behind them. Raised voices immediately drifted through the wood, and although the children couldn't see their parents, it was easy to imagine their faces.            Datsuko started to make hot chocolate for the three of them.            "The runt and the lame should be put down – they'll be no use for working or breeding!" This was Hiraku.            "No! Just because she's the runt of the litter doesn't mean she can't work, or breed, or be a companion! And the dog could be a companion too," Tsume responded.            "It's not worth the resources to rear them!"            "It's always worth it!"            "It's uneconomical!"            "It's ethical and moral!"            "Leaving them to grow and be useless is immoral!"            Hana had long brought Kiba into her arms and covered his ears, trying to muffle the row. Kiba was snivelling into her nightgown and clung tightly to her.            Datsuko quietly put two mugs of hot chocolate in front of the pair and tapped Hana's wrist to let her know. The pre-teen, used to Datsuko appearing randomly and only communicating with feelings, nodded gratefully in Datsuko's general direction before taking Kiba's arms from around her waist, pressing a mug into his hands and gently leading him up to his bedroom for the night. Datsuko waited patiently in the kitchen for Hana to return for her own drink. When the girl returned, looking distinctly upset now and glancing nervously at the back door, she slid onto a chair and sipped the warm drink. She started slightly as Datsuko touched her arm, sending a questioning thought to her cousin. Hana slumped on the tabled and cradled her mug in her hands before speaking quietly.            "Mum… Dad… They always argue after a litter's been born. Dad's an outsider, not from the village; he was a prominent dog breeder from the Tea Country, and Grandpa thought it would be a good idea to have him marry Mum, so they could share talents and experiences and improve the Inuzuka pack. But as a civilian, he specialises in domestic and traditional working animals. While he cares for the dogs, he's more interested in breeding specialised ones and selling on the stock. A runt or a lame is a poor investment." Hana paused for a moment, and sighed as she eyed the door again. "On the other hand, Mum specialises in nin-dog and is much more concerned about the dogs than the profit. Dad just… doesn't get it." She sipped her drink. "He doesn't get it at all, so Mum's always fighting with him. She normally wins, but…" Trailing off, Hana stared into the frothy brown mixture. Then, almost inaudibly, she said, "One of my triplets is the father. His first."            Datsuko's heart went out to her cousin, and the girl smiled a little as she felt it through the temporary bond. Then she picked up her mug, downed the drink and stood up. "Anyway, if he puts any of them down, it won't just be Mum he's answering to; I'll put him down myself," she joked awkwardly. Patting Datsuko's head she said, "Come on; bed for us. They… They'll stop arguing in their own time." She glanced again at the door, where voices could still be heard, although they were quieter and more intense, so only the occasionally "Bastard," and "Stupid woman," came through. Hana then steered her cousin into bed before going to bed herself. Before long her breathing had evened out in the depths of sleep, and eventually lulled Datsuko's fretting mind to sleep. 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 Late the same night, Sasuke was padding quietly though the dark corridors of his house, coming back from a visit to the bathroom, when he heard voices coming from the meeting room, and a beam of light spilled from a crack in the sliding doors. As he recognised his father's low chuckle he stopped to listen to the conversation.            "You are my son, indeed. I knew I could trust you to enter ANBU."            Sasuke regarded the statement for a moment, before realising that Itachi had succeeded in his mission.            It was probably unfair of him to be upset that his brother had gotten into ANBU.            It just meant that there was even more for Sasuke to work up to. 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 Hinata lay awake that night in her stark, cold room, thoughts of the day passing incessantly through her mind: her father's angry words at an innocent girl not born in the village; the rudeness of everyone towards Naruto; the surprise friendship and acceptance of an 'enemy' and a rival clan's heir; the blond's smile as he lapped up the class's attention; her father and her cousin's disapproval of her friends, and the harsh training session, which had left her with several bruises from Jyuuken strikes, even if they were free of chakra to 'protect' her; the look of disappointment when Hinata failed to land a strike on even Neji, who was a Branch House member and supposedly below her; and Neji's smug air when Hiashi nodded in silent approval of his skill.            Hinata wished so badly that he would give her even that simple nod to show pleasure in her.            She sighed and rolled over on the bed, trying to ease the pressure on a bruise on her ribs, and stifled a sob, making efforts to reassure herself that she was just a slow learner and that she would one day meet her father's expectations. It was of small comfort. Then she remembered the blond boy's sunny smile, even after he had tripped and embarrassed himself. Smiling weakly, Hinata took a little courage from the memory, and eventually drifted off to sleep.

And that’s where I abandoned it! Sorry if you wanted more, but I hope you enjoyed it.

[lazymilkshakecolor]

Invictus chapter 3

Two days, two days since the most powerful shinobis in the village died, two days since the remaining members of the legendary sannin died, two days since mama and papa died.

But what is death really?

I'm 17 years old, and  I was on the brink of death twice till now, both of those times, it didn't hurt to die, sure it hurt to think that I'm never going to accomplish my dream and never going to see my family and friends anymore, but during those moments I thought that it was worth it, to die to protect and to defend, isn't that the duty of shinobi? Shouldn't dying on the battlefield be the perfect ending for a shinobi?

That's how my parents died, they died defending their village, their people, they died like shinobi, like lovers even, since how many shinobi can say they died while holding their lover's hand?

I should head towards the hokage tower, where the funeral is held, but maybe I should eat this bento chou-chou gave me yesterday before.

I sat down on a bench next to the gates and ate the bento chou insisted I eat, I would've eaten it at home but Boruto came over and nagged me to get out and take a walk.

That's why I'm at a bench next to the village gate force feeding myself a bento, I would've thrown it out, but Chou made this, she took the time to make it and I can't just throw it out.

I picked at an onigiri, which reminded me of Saboro, Onigiri is his favorite food, I wonder if he's okay, he's staying at aunt Ino 's for now and I haven't seen him since, I don't know if I can even look him in the eye anymore, cause to look at eyes identical to mama's is torture.

But I have to see him, to talk to him and to comfort him, since it's my job to do these things because I am the older sibling, that's what papa always said, that it was the oldest sibling's job to be there for the younger sibling, even if it was in the form of an obstacle.

I'm guessing papa had a complicated bond with Uncle Itachi.

I was meaning to ask him about Uncle Itachi but Uncle Naruto died, the Kazekage's brother died and then he and mama died.

I was too involved in my thoughts I didn't notice the short girl that came towards me.

''Sara-neechan?''

''Himawari.''

She was looking at me with concerned eyes like I was some dear who was going to run away if she scared it, am I?

''So you took my advice huh?''

I didn't see him, he was behind me, but I'd know that voice anywhere.

''You nagged at me for a whole hour.''

''An hour of life I don't regret wasting.''

I was wondering what they were doing here until I saw what was in their hands, pink carnations, they were only found in the forest outside of the village.

''Look what we got for auntie and Uncle, do you like them?''

''Yeah Hima.'' I tried smiling, but I could tell it was a failed attempt by Boruto's worried expression.

He extended his hand towards me and I took it without hesitation.

'''Come on.''

Funny, I didn't really notice where I was sitting until I stood up, it was the bench where Papa proposed to mama.

What was so special about this bench?

I remember once I asked him if he planned his proposal to mama, he said he did it on instinct, he knew he wanted to marry her but he didn't know how to tell her that, so he told me that he just blurted out that he wanted her to wear the Uchiha crest while they were sitting on this bench.

I reached into my pocket to feel a ring attached to a string, it was papa's ring, it was made of a special metal so it won't get destroyed easily, I couldn't find Mama's cause they dragged me out of there before I could find it.

After the big explosion, I headed towards the now destroyed place, I wanted to see if I could find their bodies, but the explosion was so powerful it destroyed them completely.

That reminds me I've got to apologize to Mitsuki for breaking his arm and then his nose when he was trying to drag me from the scene.

We walked in silence, but I could feel Boruto's eyes on me every few seconds, his eye would activate from time to time, probably to check for anything suspicious.

I didn't see him at all yesterday, the day my parents died, I woke up to find myself in my room, Boruto was sitting on my bedside, I wanted to believe back then that it was just a dream , but his eyes said it all, so I asked him to leave cause I don't like to break down in front of him, in front of anybody, and he complied and I didn't see him again until today morning when he nagged me to get out of the house, but I was sure he was hearing about me from Chou-chou who was with yesterday.

And speaking of the devil.

''Sarada.''

She said as she hugged me, I wanted to tell that it was too tight and that she was choking me, but just thinking about that made my throat clog up, cause mama's hugs were always too tight, but very comforting.

''Did you eat the bento I gave you?''

''What do you think?''

''I think you just ate so you don't throw it out.''

I wanted to smile but I couldn't, it was too hard.

Chou-chou gave me a small smile that is meant to be reassuring.

''Thanks chou.''

Mitsuki came over and talked to me a little, he was traveling with his father for a short trip to do some research.

Konohamaru sensei, who took the mantle of hokage after the seventh, stood in the middle between the two empty coffins and started his speech.

I blocked him out, since I knew his words would only break me more, instead, I focused on finding my brother.

There was a lot of people here, people from other villages, even people from small villages.

I eventually found him walking next to Kakashi who is his godfather.

He froze when he saw me and he stayed like that until I gestured for him to come over, he did and threw his arms around me.

He was trying not to sob but his efforts were futile.

''It's okay Boro, let it out.''

I'm Anbu captain and I can barely stop myself from collapsing right here and now.

''It's going to be okay Boro.''

When did I become the person that reassures?

After about five minutes he pulled away, his pink hair was sticking up from the back, like Papa's old hair style, but his eyes are torturing me, that's why I looked away from him.

.

.

.

''Where's boro?''

''He's with Kakashi, he's his godfather so…''

The hokage roof was now empty and it was only Boruto and me.

''Come here.'' He said as he pulled me towards him, I wrapped my arms around him.

''You can come to me if you need anything, you don't have to be Anbu captain with me and with Mitsuki too, but he took off with his father to research something.''

''Yeah.'' I said as I pulled away

''Could you let me say goodbye to my parents?''

''Yeah, you know where to find me.''

Our eyes met for a second before he went away.

I walked towards the two coffins were a ton of flowers rested.

''Mama,Papa…''

My head jerked up and my ninja instincts kicked in when I heard rapid steps running up the stairs, but I calmed down once I saw it was just a middle-aged man, a woman, and a young man.

The women put her hands on her mouth when she looked at the pictures of my parents on their coffins.

''Oh God, I can't believe this.''

The middle aged man stayed quite although his features were ones of great sadness.

''So the rumors were true huh?''

The women approached the coffins and crouched down.

''I can't believe it, they were so strong, so strong together so in love, I didn't think they would go like this.''

''It is unbelievable that a couple as pure and as strong as these two would perish like this.''

''At least you knew them I was a baby when we met them.''

''Who are you?" I asked them.

The young man answered while the man continued staring at the coffins and the women just stared at her.

''We're just old friends, and you are?''

''I'm their-

''Daughter.'' The old women said.

''What?'' the two men asked in unison.

''Look at her Toru, she has the same face and eyes as Sakura –san's and her hair and eye color are exactly like Sasuke-san.''

''Well are you?'' the younger man asked me, I nodded.

''I'm so sorry young lad.'' The women said.

''How did you know my parents?''

The women and the man called Toru looked at each other.

''They saved our village.''

[eyeofthewolfe]

Ninjago Season 8: Baby Garmadon and the Unexpected Lullaby

It happened. It actually happened. 

 The Temple of Resurrection was filled with a blinding light as the spell was completed. Lloyd fell backwards, holding his bandaged hand from the cut needed to bring his dad back.

 As the light died down, the last thing both teams expected to hear rose from the smoking circle of resurrection.

 A baby's cry. 

 The other team stood back in shock, but the Ninja team didn't hesitate. "Get him!" Lloyd barked. 

 Cole instantly flipped over the barrier and scooped up the baby. As the Garmadon worshippers snapped into action, the ninja team was already set to holding them back. Cole tucked the child into his arm and then lifted a glowing fist as the signal. 

 Lloyd nodded, seeing the glowing orange hand. "Retreat!" He ordered as he painfully pushed himself off the ground.

 The ninjas vanished like ghosts, but the worshippers weren't that easily defeated. "Follow them!" The leader screeched. 

 The ninjas regrouped at the edge of the temple. "They are hot on my trail," Kai huffed as he slid in the circle.

 "Alright," Lloyd acknowledged the red ninja. "We need to get us and Garmadon to the Bounty. I recommend we split up, so they have to split up too."

 "Who is going to take the baby?" Jay asked, looking around. 

 Lloyd extended his hands to Cole. "I will. He is my dad." 

 Cole didn't hesitate when he handed the small child over. Lloyd took the child, but then something weird happened. 

 The baby began to cry. 

 "No no no," Lloyd hushed to the baby but something was clearly making the baby upset. 

 "Over there!" The leader of the worshippers called through the twilight mist.

 Lloyd pulled the baby closer to him, but he just cried even harder. He stuck his pudgy arms out towards the sleeveless ninja. 

 The green eyed ninja slowly raised his eyes to Cole. "I think....he wants you." 

The black haired ninja stared blankly back. "No way. I can't care for babies. I don't even like babies-"

 Lloyd passed the baby to Cole. The baby instantly stopped crying and smiled up at the tall muscular ninja. "Well, get your parent instincts on, you're taking care of him til we get to the Bounty." 

 Cole looked down at the smiling baby before rolling his eyes and tying him to his back. "Hold on Lil' Garmy." He grumbled as he tightened his new package on his back.

 A burning arrow stuck itself right above Zane's head. "We need to leave." He told everyone. 

 The ninja all nodded in unison and split into the night.

 The tall and muscular ninja slid through the jungle like he was a ghost. His eyes constantly darted through the undergrowth, looking for movement. The Bounty was still about a hundred yards away but he wasn't about to take any chances, especially with Garmadon strapped to his back. 

 A twig snapped to his right. 

 Cole ducked down fast and froze. The baby was being remarkably silent as he waited to pounce on the enemy. He tightened his grasp on his war hammer and waited until he saw movement. 

 "Ah, gross..." 

 Cole sighed then stood up. Jay flinched and bit back a yelp. "Cole! You gave me a heart attack!" 

 "You gave me one first!" Cole hissed back as he tightened his package. 

 "How is he doing back there?" the blue ninja asked as he peered over Cole's shoulder. 

 The baby smiled in return. "He's doing fine," Cole grumbled. He motioned with his hand and they both ducked into the undergrowth and crawled together toward the Bounty. 

 "I knew the Resurrection thing would make a baby, but I didn't expect to be the babysitter," the taller ninja grumbled. "I'm horrible with babies." 

 Jay looked over with his eyes narrowed. "I thought you said you liked kids." 

 He snorted. "There's a fine line between a child and a baby." He explained. "Kids you can entertain with screens and they can use imagination. Babies sleep, poop, eat, and-" 

A wail cried out from Cole's back. The two ninja froze. "-cry." Cole finished with wide eyes.

 Baby Garmadon began to screech. Cole untied him and held in him his arms, trying to look for what was wrong. "Hey, hey, hey....sssshhhhh!" Cole tried to comfort the baby while Jay looked around in panic. 

 "Jay I don't know what's wrong!" Cole hissed as the baby continued to cry. It was so loud, he was sure their location was jeopardized. 

 "We have to make a run for it!" Jay spat quietly, but Cole shook his head. "They don't know where we are yet-we need to get him quiet!" 

 "OVER HERE!" A distant cry echoed through the woods. Baby Garmadon continued to wail. 

 Jay held his head in panic. "Give it food!" 

 "I don't have any!" 

 The blue ninja made a panicked noise in this throat. "Well, do something! Cover its mouth, sing a lullaby or something-" 

 "I'm not covering his mouth!" Cole hissed through his teeth. "And I'm not going to sing-" 

 "We are gonna get caught if you don't do something!" Jay screeched as softly as possible. 

 "Grrrr! Fine!" Cole spat as he cradled the crying child. "Um...go to sleep..." 

 Baby Garmadon's wails died down some as Cole's voice softened into song. Jay's jaw dropped under his mask. 

 Cole's heart pounded, but he kept going. "Uh..."

 "Go to sleep my little one 

Sleep until again there's sun." 

His voice was shaking now, but the baby was now staring at Cole, completely calm. He looked up at Jay, who gestured to him to keep going. He took in a shaky breath but continued. 

 "Hear my voice, you're safe with me 

Hear my sweet sweet melody." 

 Baby Garmadon started to blink sleepily. Cole couldn't believe this was actually working. As Jay peered over the bushes, Cole finished the last verse in a controlled and soothing tune. 

 "Don't be scared, and please don't cry 

Listen to this lullaby." 

Silence fell again on the forest as the baby softly slept in Cole's giant arms. The two ninja anticipated an attack, but none ever came. Jay poked his head out of their bushes and waved the clear sign. Cole glanced one last time at the baby before holding him tight and making a dash for the ship. 

 In a few seconds, Jay and Cole were halfway up the gangway. "J AND C!" Jay wailed as they hit the deck. All the other ninja were waiting for them, where Nya instantly pulled the ship up and off the ground, Zane and Kai lifted the gangway, and Lloyd pulled the sails taught. Another few seconds and their ship was airborne. 

 The ninja all met together in the kitchen, where Cole was cradling the baby. Lloyd was the last one in with his mom, who had wrapped fresh gauze on his hand. "I'm glad we are all safe. Especially you, Cole. Looks like you didn't have any complications." 

 Jay snorted. "We did have one big one. The baby decided to let loose a sobbing fit while we were in stealth mode." 

 Kai's jaw dropped. "How did you not get found?" 

 The team all turned to Cole, who was sitting in the corner slowly rocking the baby. Baby Garmadon was fast asleep with his little head facing Cole. His left tiny hand was resting on Cole's bicep, but the Ninja didn't care. In fact, he was looking down upon the baby with an unusual small smile, as if he was the proud father. 

 Jay slowly turned back to the group. "He sang a lullaby." 

 Now all the ninja's jaws dropped. "I thought Cole said he couldn't sing," Zane murmured. 

 The blue ninja forced a laugh. "Well, he lied. Big time." 

 Cole slowly cradled the baby but looked up at the team. They all stared at him in shock. The black ninja blushed. "Fine, yes, I can carry a tune." 

 Jay crossed his arms. "You can do more than just carry a tune. You put a baby to sleep just with your voice." 

 Cole blushed harder. "The song....it was sung to me when I was a baby. I remember my dad singing it to me every night....but..." Cole drifted off, his eyes staring in the distance deep in memories. "...I kind of remember someone else singing to me, a woman." 

 "Your mom?" Nya asked. 

 He looked back down at the small child, who was starting to stir. "I don't remember my mom at all. Dad said she passed before I could remember." 

 Now the baby was yawning and blinking open his big brown eyes. He gazed at Cole, before smiling a little. "Wuah-wuah!" He cooed at the Ninja. 

 Cole smiled back and said, "Wuah-wuah!" back. The ninja all stood in silence, shocked to see this side of Cole for the first time. 

 With a huge smile, Baby Garmadon clapped its small hands together. Then it reached up to Cole's face and spoke, "Da-Da!" 

 Cole's smile faded and color drained from his face. He slowly looked up at the team in shock. Jay was coving his mouth trying not to explode in laughter, but Cole didn't think it was funny. "He thinks...." Cole breathed, as he looked down at the baby. "Garmadon thinks I'm his dad."