A/N: To all the people that still read and favorite, follow and review this story, I cannot thank you enough. I apologize for the ridiculousness that has been this story's upload schedule, but hey, aside from a dissertation, I've finished my master's degree, which will definitely clear up more time to write. I want to thank woof-chan1, and especially Miasmic for their help betaing this chapter! Hope you enjoy it and would love to see what you guy's think in the reviews. Much love!

Chapter 15: Contingencies

"Nee-chan, I can't walk in this." Naruto whined as he flopped the long sleeves of his kimono. They were currently on their way to the Hyuuga mansion to have dinner with Hinata-chan and her parents. He pouted — he didn't know that agreeing to go there would mean he'd have to go wearing this.

Miu hummed, clearly amused and walking in her kimono as if she had done it all her life. She looked like a pretty princess from one of those storybooks she'd given him, with her dark blue kimono, colourful flowers sprawled across the fabric and her hair pinned up with a pretty floral pin. "Nonsense, you're walking right now, aren't you?"

Naruto frowned, unappreciative of how his sister was brushing aside his suffering. The obi was tight and he didn't like how the skirt was restricting his legs. At least he didn't have to put on those ridiculous sandals that came with them, having been allowed to wear his ninja sandals underneath.

"That sounds strangely familiar," Kakashi-san piped up and Naruto saw his sister shoot the man a glare.

"Why does that sound familiar, Kakashi-san?" Naruto asked, curious. Kakashi-san's eye curved as he smiled. Naruto had quickly learned that the man was really easygoing and his eye closed when he smiled. He wondered why he wore his headband over his other one, but hadn't dared to ask yet.

"Because Miu-chan here used to—oompf."

"Kakashi is an old man, Naruto-kun, see his grey hair? He seems to think that everything is familiar to him, the poor guy."

Naruto blinked and wondered why Miu needed to elbow Kakashi in the ribs. Though he did have grey hair, just like other old people he'd seen on the streets.

"Miu-chan, you're so rude to your elders. I feel hurt." His sister dodged a swipe at her head and grinned at the man.

"Aw, sowwy for hurting your feelings, Kakashi-oji-san!"

Miu shrieked with laughter as Kakashi made another lunge for her and Naruto just watched on in amusement as his sister let go of his hand and danced around avoiding Kakashi-san.

"You're weird." He muttered under his breath, amused despite not knowing what was going on.

The man suddenly grabbed Naruto around the middle, startling a cry from him as he tucked him in the crook of his arm.

"I have taken your little brother prisoner! Apologize if you want him back!"

Miu made a sound of mock outrage. "Not my family, you scoundrel!"

And then suddenly they were zipping over buildings, jumping rooftops. Kakashi threw Naruto onto his back, and with a twinkling eye smile said, "Hold on, Naruto-kun."

Naruto did as he was told and pressed his face against Kakashi-san's neck, laughing into the fabric. He chanced a look behind him and to his surprise his sister wasn't there.

"Kakashi-san, nee-chan's not—" And before he could say it, his sister appeared in front of them and swiped at Kakashi's face, grabbing Naruto off his back as Kakashi-san dodged and she then ran with him tucked into the crook of her arm, cackling all the way.

She stopped on a rooftop and put him down. Her eyes were twinkling when he looked up at her and they both grinned at each other.

"That was fun, nee-chan!"

"It was great!" She agreed with a laugh.

She brushed his hair back into place, well, as much as that was possible. She'd already complained about how his hair was just as wild as him. She then looked him over, adjusted his obi a bit and then nodded. Kakashi had joined them in the meanwhile, grumbling under his breath. "Not an ojii-san…only a three year difference."

Miu giggled as she straightened, brushing her bangs back into place. "Now, now, Kakashi-dono, one mustn't complain about one's age."

The man just sighed, looking absolutely exasperated.

They both dropped from the roof and started making their way onwards.

"How old are you, Kakashi-san?" He asked him. Miu grinned down at him and Kakashi simply sighed again.

"Nineteen."

He blinked in shock. "That's so old."

Miu cackled and Kakashi looked mortally offended. She patted him on the back.

"Don't worry Kakashi, kids have a very skewed sense of time." She glanced at her brother. "Isn't that right, Naruto?" They both grinned at each other.

He turned to Kakashi with the brightest smile he could muster and nodded. "That's right, Kakashi-oji-san."

They both burst into laughter at Kakashi's affronted, "Oi!"

After another minute of walking, they'd both sufficiently calmed down. Naruto looked up at his sister as she gently squeezed his hand.

"We're here," She said softly and he looked up to see the huge white walls, bits of dark rooftops were visible from where he was standing.

He squeezed her hand back and got a smile in return. "Let's go eat some yummy food and see Hinata-chan again, okay?"

Naruto grinned. "Yeah!"

They walked up to an enormous gate, in front of which stood a man with long brown hair and white Hyuuga eyes. Nee-chan had explained a bit what they could do, that they were called the Byakugan and had the ability to see chakra and through walls, which he thought was pretty cool.

"Tsukino Miu-san, Uzumaki Naruto-kun, please, follow me."

Miu turned around to say goodbye to Kakashi and Naruto gave the man a wave, eyes widening when he disappeared with an eye smile and a puff of smoke.

"How did he do that?" Naruto whispered to his sister as they started following the man through the gates.

"It's called a shunshin. I'll tell you about it later, okay?"

He nodded eagerly, curiosity sated for now. His attention was sidetracked by the view that greeted him when he walked through the gates. He blinked at the huge towering buildings, all dark wood and white walls. He didn't think there was anything else like it in Konoha. "Woah…"

"Beautiful," Miu whispered next to Naruto and he looked up to see her admiring the buildings as well, eyes taking everything in.

They were lead to the biggest house in the middle of the compound and he remembered his nee-chan telling him that Hinata-chan's mom and dad were important people which is why they had to dress up in the first place.

The inside was all polished wood. It was warm and nice, though their home felt cozier. There were expensive decorations everywhere and he knew that he would definitely not be allowed to run around this place. He looked up to see his sister raising an eyebrow at him as if she knew what he'd been thinking. Naruto grinned at her sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head, wondering if she had mind-reading powers. He took off his sandals and thought of how Hinata managed to play in such a space. Maybe they had a cool garden like he did?

Naruto and Miu were lead through a long hallway filled with screen doors. Naruto felt more and more nervous as they walked deeper into the Hyuuga home. He tried not to think of the cold looks that people had always given him, taking comfort in his sister's presence and her firm hold on his hand. He remembered her promise to take him away the moment he told her he felt too uncomfortable — he took comfort in that as well.

The Hyuuga that was leading them stopped at the third shogi screen in that corridor, knelt down in front of it and slid open the door.

"Hiashi-sama, Hikari-sama. Tsukino Miu-san and Uzumaki Naruto-kun are here." He announced with a low bow.

Naruto looked up as his sister gave his hand a comforting squeeze. She smiled at him— it helped calm his nerves. He returned the smile and together they entered.

The room was bright and covered in tatami flooring. There was a scroll hanging above a flower arrangement, sitting on an elevated wooden platform in an alcove on the right side of the room. There was a low table in the centre and the zabuton cushions closest to the flowers— on the right side of the table— were unoccupied. The head of the Hyuuga clan, Hyuuga Hiashi, was sitting at the end of the table, opposite the entrance. His wife, Hikari, sat to his right with Hinata-chan next to her. Miu walked into the room and bowed.

"Hiashi-sama, Hikari-sama, thank you for the gracious invitation." Naruto joined her in the bow and echoed her thanks. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Hiashi-sama."

"Tsukino-kun, it is good to see you and your brother arrived here in good health," Hiashi-sama nodded in greeting. Naruto jolted at the welcome and felt his heart warm. He glanced at his sister, before looking back at the regal looking family. They were all dressed in Kimono's as well. Hiashi-sama's was a dark blue, while Hikari-sama and Hinata-chan's were in shades of purple.

Hiashi-sama's voice was deep and detached, eyes unfathomably deep and Naruto felt his back tingle at the feeling of his piercing gaze.

Hikari-sama's voice was a nice counterbalance to his aloof one, being warmer, though no less regal. "Tsukino-chan, Naruto-kun, it's good to see you both again. Please, take a seat."

"It's a pleasure to see you again, too, Hikari-sama, Hinata-chan." Miu said, smiling and nodding at the girl who blushed slightly, nodding in return. Miu sat down on the open seat in front of the flower arrangement, to Hiashi-sama's left and opposite Hikari-sama with Naruto sitting to her left, opposite Hinata.

"You have a magnificent home, by the way."

Naruto left his sister to her grown-up talk. He grinned at Hinata-chan when she glanced at him again from across the table.

"Hello, Hinata-chan, it's good to see you again!"

Her cheeks reddened as she smiled a bit hesitantly. "Hello, Naruto-kun, it's good to see you as well. How have you been?"

"Very good! Ne, Hinata-chan, your home is huge!" He bounced on his seat and then leaned over the table a bit as he lowered his voice to ask, "How do you play here, though?"

"Thank you, Naruto-kun. Um, I don't r-really play much. I do love to press flowers, though. Kaa-sama just recently taught me how."

"Huh, what's flower pressing?" He asked.

"U-um, it's where you use a flower that you find pretty or was a gift, dry them and then stick them into a book. It's really p-pretty to look at."

Naruto hummed, "That sounds nice. I have a friend called Ino-chan and her mom and dad own a flower shop. She likes to talk about flowers, you gotta meet her sometime," He scratched the back of his head a bit sheepishly. "I like going to the park, though. Do you play tag or ninja?"

She shook her head.

"I didn't either before, but Shikamaru-kun and Chouji-kun showed me how to play," He confided with a grin. "They are very nice too! I'll show you when you come play with us next time okay?"

"Okay," She smiled. "I would like that."

The food was brought in shortly after they came — platter upon platter filled to the brim with delicious looking food. There was an arrangement of rolls and steamed buns, fried chicken, sesame noodles, glazed sweet potatoes and staples of plain white rice and miso soup. There was pure delight on Naruto's face as he watched the various dishes come in and she plated him a bit of everything to try.

Topics of conversation remained light. There was a dish that Miu recognised originated from rice country, which started a whole discussion on the various delicacies that they had tried. Hiashi-sama was interested in the places she'd visited and Miu told them, leaving out any mentions of missions they'd done in the area. That information sparked another discussion on the economic state of the neighbouring countries. When Miu'd talked about the silk trade in wind country, she complimented the design and make of Hikari-sama's deep purple kimono, which lead to them trading names of excellent kimono boutiques in fire country.

When they were eating, the silence wasn't too uncomfortable. The children were still talking and both Hikari-sama and Hiashi-sama listened in when Naruto told Hinata the story about how he'd met Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Chouji.

Tea was served shortly after they finished the grand meal. Once the grown-ups had a steaming cup in front of them, and the kids their juice of choice, the questions changed to talk about more recent events.

Hiashi-sama looked at her gravely, hands curled around the beautiful china cup. "I have heard of the attack on your person. It seems you have recovered?"

Miu knew that the topic would be brought up and suppressed the urge to sigh, "Yes, Hiashi-sama, I am fully healed now." Speaking of recovery, she remembered seeing Hikari-sama coming out of the hospital herself, the first time she and Naruto ran into them and wondered if she was okay. She glanced at the woman but didn't say anything.

"The perpetrator has not been caught yet?" He asked, a grave slant to his mouth.

A shiver raced down her spine at the reminder, and Miu very carefully ignored the emotions that welled up, stuffing them into a mental box and closing the lid with a resounding bang. She shook her head, her face blank when she answered, "Unfortunately not." She glanced at Naruto, noting that the boy hadn't caught what they were talking about and felt relieved, "I was told that every trace that had been left was wiped away or degraded to such a degree that made tracking impossible."

The only way to catch him will be to get him the next time he comes for me, she thought.

Miu watched the tea leaves drifting at the bottom of her cup and wondered when that would be. Her stomach turned just thinking about it.

She missed the disapproving glance the matriarch sent her husband.

"How have you been finding Konoha, Tsukino-chan? Have you been settling in alright?" Hikari-sama asked, and Miu blinked out of her daze. She nodded, a smile lighting up her features, grateful for the change in subject.

"Konoha's been great, Hikari-sama. The village is wonderful and I've made many friends here." Anko, Gai, Kurenai…and she'd met Kakashi here again as well. She glanced at Naruto and couldn't help the smile from softening. And I've found family.

Hikari-sama hummed, smiling herself at the affection in Miu's eyes. "Has Naruto settled in alright?"

"Yes, he has, fortunately. His room is all set-up and I've started on his education as well."

"That is good. Will you be enrolling him into the academy?"

Miu nodded, "He's expressed an interest in becoming a shinobi, so I will be enrolling him next spring, when he's six."

Hyuuga Hiashi nodded in approval. "My Hinata will be enrolling at that time as well."

Miu felt relieved knowing that Naruto would at least have someone he knew in his year at the academy.

"What are your plans when he starts school?" Hikari-sama asked.

"Well, I'm off duty for the month, to get Naruto settled into our home and to spend time with him. After this, I will start working inside the village. I don't think I'll be taking many missions outside the village until Naruto is at least eight." She thought back to the conversation she had with the Sandaime. He had fortunately been very accepting of the fact that she needed time with Naruto and wondered what kind of projects she would be asked to work on.

"What do you specialise in?"

"Kenjutsu and Ninjutsu, mostly. Though I do have a decent grasp on Fuinjutsu."

"I remember you telling us that a week ago," He raised a manicured eyebrow and Miu fought an embarrassed blush at the reference to her rant at the council meeting. She could swear she saw Hikari-sama's lips twitch before she took a graceful sip of her drink. Hiashi-sama hummed, the sound hinting at curiosity, "Your father's influence, I see." A glint of emotion managed to pass through the man's facade, faster than she could catch.

She smiled, her heart throbbing at the mention. "Yes, I was quite adamant about learning it after I figured out how endless the possibilities were. My dad was a good teacher."

Hiashi-sama nodded slightly. "He was very creative with his seals," He drawled and Miu laughed, remembering the oft unconventional things he used his seals for, from night lamps to confetti bombs to seals that could suck the dust off of any surface.

"Creative is right." She replied and something in his eyes lit up. She felt her heart warm at the acknowledgement.

"Do you intend to teach your brother?"

Miu hummed, glancing at the boy.

"That depends on him. I am interested in developing him as a shinobi, but I have yet to find out where his strengths lie. Once I find out I'll be able to pass along my knowledge in a more effective manner…" She smiled. "I am making sure that his writing and calligraphy are as good as I can get them, as that would be a valuable skill regardless of whether he wants to get into seals." He nodded in agreement, though Hikari-sama's gaze was more open.

"You sound like you've thought about this." She commented lightly and Miu smiled bashfully.

"Well, it is his future so I want to take care and train him properly."

The woman smiled at her, the expression softening her eyes. "You are a good sister, Miu-chan."

"Ah, um, thank you, Hikari-sama," She sipped her tea, trying to will away the blush that was rising on her cheeks. The praise, unexpected as it was, warmed her to her core.

"And what are your plans for the future?"

"I wish to become a jounin, though my ultimate goal is to take on a genin team." She grinned, "I would like to help the future generation of shinobi in our village and maybe pass some of my skills down to my students."

There was a small lull in the conversation, the silence surprisingly comfortable. The kids were talking softly and Miu smiled at the discussion on ninja techniques they were having. Apparently Hiashi-sama was already starting his daughter on flexibility and endurance exercises.

Hinata, noting the lull in conversation and that they had mostly finished their drinks, turned to her parents. "Um, Okaa-sama, Otou-sama, can we show Naruto-kun and Tsukino-san our garden?" Naruto brightened immediately at the idea and Miu found herself intrigued as well. The two elders nodded.

"I think a walk would be wonderful," Hikari-sama chimed in.

Someone came in at that moment and, with a bow, opened the sliding door at the back of the room to reveal the engawa that wrapped around the home and the beautiful garden that lay beyond that. Miu felt her breath catch at the sight of the small ponds, the beautiful greenery that she knew had been planned out and planted to portray its beauty to the fullest. There was a magnificent small, red bridge that stretched across the pond, a sturdy maple tree with leaves that were turning a burnt orange settled at its side.

Miu blinked, turning away from the sight to smile up at the Hyuuga couple. "You have a beautiful garden." She praised softly.

The words seemed to be appreciated. Naruto tugged at her sleeve, drawing her attention. He looked at her for permission, eyes shining with excitement. She ruffled his hair slightly.

"I think there's some koi in that pond, go check it out."

The boy looked ecstatic and made his way over to Hinata to verify the information before he grabbed her hand and ran them both over to the side of the pond. Hikari-sama followed at a leisure pace and she was left alone with Hiashi-sama.

She wondered dimly if this had been planned and glanced at the man. He was looking at the children with an unreadable look in his eyes, any emotion wiped away from his face and Miu felt a fierce stab of apprehension. He started walking towards the bridge and Miu didn't really have a choice but to follow him.

Once again Miu got caught in the beauty of the garden and remembered the one her clan had once had, behind their manor in fire country. It hadn't been as magnificent as this one, but it had been hers. A place where she'd spent her time off relaxing with a good book. They stopped at the apex of the bridge and Miu allowed her mind to take in the plethora of different plants and flowers as she silently stood next to Hiashi-sama, waiting for him to speak. The sun's rays were warm on her back, even though it was already October. It was a beautiful day, the breeze that brushed against her skin and tinkled the hanging flower pin in her bun was colder than she was used to.

"Are you aware that you have drawn the attention of several…factions in the village?"

Miu blinked at the sudden ominous non-sequitur. She was careful not to seem tense.

"Which factions would those be, Hiashi-sama?" She asked with a sideways glance at the man.

He didn't answer and Miu felt a shiver run down her spine. Damn it. She didn't want any unwanted attention from anyone that could make her life more difficult. Or make Naruto's life more difficult. She watched the boy, who was talking animatedly to Hinata-chan as they were leaning over the pond with Hikari-sama keeping a watchful eye on both of them.

The sight of him set Miu's blood afire with her conviction to protect.

"They are worried with the sudden support you have built up. You seem to be gaining a political foothold very fast and it is making some people uneasy."

Miu kept her gaze fixed forward, mind working a mile a minute.

She could understand what he was saying. Objectively speaking, she was an outsider who had come to Konoha only six months ago. While her family had been loyal Konoha shinobi, she hadn't been an official Konoha shinobi until she'd come here, as she had been home-schooled due to those disappearances during that period in her childhood.

She'd come here and adopted Naruto, who was seen as the Jinchuuriki of the nine-tails instead of a mere child and that was already a very dangerous point in her favour.

Then she had built ties with some of Konoha's biggest clans.

Bloody hell. I can see how that would make people uneasy.

"I understand, but still, that was not my intention," She sighed, mouth pulling up into a bitter smile, "But in politics, it is less about intentions and more about what is perceived and the image you portray."

The man hummed in what might have been agreement. "The attack is believed by some to have been an ordered assassination."

Miu narrowed her eyes and analysed her information. "Unlikely." She discarded, "The excess amount of time spent on watching me would indicate someone with a grudge. Assassinations would be quick."

Unless of course it was ordered to look like a grudge killing. But then again, he'd had the chance to take her out, right? Instead of going in for the kill, he had retreated. Had he suspected that the poison would take her out? Or was Naruto being there the reason he'd held back? She remembered that there had been someone else who'd attacked her first stalker out of hiding in the first place and just shot down that train of thought. She blinked, connecting this with her earlier words.

"But then again, people don't care about the truth, do they? People that would believe it…would surmise that I really am a threat?"

Breeding fear into the hearts of Konoha's citizens. How far I've come in only a few weeks.

She made a face. One attempt at her life was enough, thank you very much. She didn't want this to encourage others to try to get rid of her.

"There is also talk that the sudden support is due to more…nefarious reasons." Miu glanced at him again. "There are some that speculate that you are being controlled." Miu didn't know if she should be offended or just roll her eyes at the stupidity of some people. She just ended up looking incredulous as the man went on to explain, "You took in the boy and have already won the loyalty of three very influential clans." He paused, unnervingly white eyes turning back to look at her. "And now you are here."

Miu chose not to see that as an insult and merely smiled in real amusement. "Believe me, Hiashi-sama, but I had never intended for Naruto to run into Shikamaru-kun and Chouji-kun. The boy befriended them while playing in the park and having observed the way people seemed to shield their children away from Naruto, I anticipated that their parents may warn them away from Naruto. I asked them to give him a chance." The man glanced back at the boy who was now listening carefully as Hikari-sama explained something to him. "Ino-chan was introduced, because she's friends with Shikaku-san and Chouza-san's sons.

"And my daughter?"

Miu blinked, before a look of fond exasperation entered her eyes as she shot her brother a look.

"Naruto-kun bumped into Hinata-chan in front of the hospital the other day. He tends to make quick friends with people. When he met your wife and daughter again a few days ago, he asked her if she wanted to come over and play with him and his other friends," She turned away from the bridge's railing to look at the man.

"I wanted your permission for Naruto-kun to play with your daughter, sir. I understand that there is your clan image to consider and how your relationship to ours, if there could be any, would be viewed as. Circumstances isolated him, though like any other child he wants friends. However, when he asked, I couldn't just invite her over without coming to you first, seeing as she's your heir."

She bowed her head slightly. "Especially concerning recent events, it would be remiss of me to associate myself with you knowing that there is an enemy currently out for my blood."

Enemy or enemies?

"I see," The man said and she raised her head when Naruto called out to her.

She looked up to see him gesturing at the pond excitedly, "Nee-chan, the koi in the pond are so big!"

Miu grinned, "Be careful not to fall in then, they might just swallow you whole."

He looked horrified and Miu laughed. Hikari-sama shot her a look that would have been exasperated on anyone else, but looked just mildly disapproving on her and turned back to the boy.

"The koi are all very friendly, Naruto-kun. I promise they won't eat you if you fall in." She reassured him and Hinata shyly interjected her agreement.

Miu watched them interact with a smile. Glancing back up to the man standing next to her, she could swear her heart skipped a beat as she noticed the ever so slight quirk to his lips. Hyuuga Hiashi was smiling! Wasn't this man supposed to be made of stone? Wasn't this against some kind of natural law?

The man raised an eyebrow as he caught her staring and Miu smiled at him a bit sheepishly. They started making their way back off the bridge and Miu tried not to feel too disappointed that she hadn't gotten a chance to take a look around this garden. Her mom would have loved to roam around here, she knew.

"Tsukino-kun, I advise you to be cautious as people will be watching you."

Miu's steps faltered at the Hyuuga clan head's soft warning, her stomach turning to ice.

"I will. Thank you." Miu felt her curiosity bubble up, bringing with it a slew of questions. "Why are you helping me, Hiashi-sama? I appreciate it, but…" She hadn't expected it from him.

He didn't say anything and Miu resigned herself to the fact that he wouldn't, until… "Because I owed both your fathers." Miu jolted, surprised by the mention of Minato-san. "If anyone had to take in that boy, I am…pleased that it was you."

Miu blushed, feeling a flush of satisfaction rush through her. She didn't have a chance to respond as Naruto bound over to her, babbling a mile a minute about the beautiful fish and that Hikari-sama had told them that they "ate plants, insects and even snails and worms, yuck! And they could become as big as me!"

On their way back inside, the clan head turned to the blond.

"So, Naruto-kun, why do you wish to be a shinobi?"

Naruto glanced at Miu, smile big and eyes bright. "I want to get stronger so I can help nee-chan and help protect other people, of course! I wanna make her proud of me!" She returned the blond's smile and brushed a hand through his hair.

I already am, Naruto.

The kid then looked at the man. "Ne, ne, Hiashi-sama, can Hinata-chan come over to play tomorrow?"

Miu flicked her eyes to the clan head and had to restrain herself from reacting. Of course, children have no tact or concept of delicacy. Of course. Why had she expected Naruto to just leave that alone?

"And why would you want to…play with Hinata-chan?"

Naruto blinked at him as if here were stupid and Miu used every ounce of her control not to burst out laughing at the insolent expression. "Cuz, she's nice." He said with absolute exasperation. "Also you can't play ninja tag by yourself, right? It's more fun if there's more people! I wanna introduce her to Ino-chan and Shika-kun and Chouji-kun!" He looked satisfied with his logic and Miu couldn't really find fault with it either.

The man's eyes were inscrutable as he took that in. "I…see," He paused, "Well then, tomorrow may be a bit sudden, but maybe sometimes next week would work?" He asked as he looked at her.

Miu inwardly picked her jaw back up at the easy acceptance and felt her stomach do a happy little flip, "That… sounds good, Hiashi-sama."

He hummed. "We'll settle a date once I have liaised with the rest of the participating members of this," He narrowed his eyes. "play date." Miu saw the Hyuuga matriarch hiding her laugh behind her own kimono sleeve.

"I agree." Miu said, but then she realized the Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka clans had no clue about what was coming their way and winced. She should probably warn them or something.

"So, how did it go?" Kakashi asked once they were a fair distance away from the gate. Miu glanced at him and smiled. The man had arrived just as they'd exited the gate, punctual as always.

"It went well, I think. They agreed to let Hinata-chan come over next week and Hiashi-sama seemed amiable to the idea of her being introduced into their friend group." The fact that it was filled with future clan heads may have played a role in his decision. Miu thought of the rather shy Hyuuga heir and thought she would do well with Ino-chan's boisterous and self-assured personality. Hikari-sama was doing a good job of shielding her of the worst of the Hyuuga clan's high-nosed attitude, but she knew how lonely it was to grow up in a household where everyone was at least twice your age. Introducing her to some age mates would be good for her.

And it would mean that Naruto could befriend another child without having to fear them pulling back because of their parents' influence.

She glanced at her brother, who had been strangely silent after they left and saw the small pinch in his brow and the concentrated look in his eyes, obviously thinking hard about something. Miu had an idea what it was about, but let him be for now. Well, she smiled, he'll tell me when he's ready.

She glanced at Kakashi and resolved to tell him about the warnings the clan head had given her earlier. For now, she pushed any thoughts of that away and her mind went to a something she'd been thinking about for the past few days. Ever since she got out of the hospital she'd gone back to her training in the mornings and evenings. She was almost back to her usual self, barring a bit of lingering fatigue, but she was back on her usual training schedule.

She'd thought about the Masked Man and knew he would be coming back, she knew that he wouldn't attack when all the attention was on her and she had friends guarding her, but would come when the dust settled down somewhat and she would be alone.

Just from his skill of hiding so thoroughly that she hadn't detected him for months, she could say that he was definitely a jounin level shinobi. Miu knew she was good, but she wasn't good enough to face a shinobi that strong, especially someone that had proven himself to be a deadly poison user. She needed to step up her training and the only way to do that would be to ask Kakashi and maybe even Gai for help.

And while she looked forward to improving her skills, she was just as much dreading the absolutely beat down that she would receive, because Kakashi was someone far, far, above her level and she would be deluded to think otherwise. But at least, that would help with her probably inevitable fight with the masked guy.

A few more days, she thought, and then she would ask him.

The first thing they did when they got home was to get out of the kimonos and change into something more comfortable. Naruto seemed overjoyed to be back in a shirt and shorts and Miu put on a pair of comfy pants and a dark red shirt. They both sprawled onto the couch and relaxed properly for the first time that day. Kakashi sat on the other couch, leafing through some kind of report.

"So, Naruto, what did you think?"

"Mm, it was fun talking to Hinata-chan. She's nice and likes flower pressing a lot! I think she would like Ino-chan. The food was really great and their house was huge! Hikari-sama knew a lot about the koi in the pond and Hinata said she comes to feed them sometimes." He paused and Miu propped an arm under her head to look at him. He was pressed against her side between her and the sofa, with his head on her shoulder and an arm slung over her middle with a fist tightened into her shirt. From her position, she could only see half of the frown pulling at his brows. "She's already training, nee-chan…"

Miu hummed. "And what do you think about that?" She asked.

He looked up at her, looking unsure. "I want to start training too."

Miu smiled and combed a hand through the boy's hair. "Of course, Naruto. I was planning to start your training soon, but I'm glad to hear that from you." She grew serious and warned him, "Training is going to be hard, though. It may at times be boring and it will include both physical and academic training. I want to prepare you for the academy and start your physical conditioning." She grinned, "Which means you'll have to start running." And stretching and she'd have to test his stamina and see what he was at good at to gauge what needed work. She made a mental note to set up an actual lesson plan when she'd put the kid to bed.

"I like running!"

"That's the spirit."

It was silent for a while, Naruto had his head on her shoulder again and Miu's mind had drifted back to the Hyuuga's words, when a softly spoken, "Thank you, nee-chan," reached her ears.

She smiled, her thumb brushing the nape of his neck before she resumed running a hand through the light strands.

"Nee-chan?"

"Hm?"

"Can you tell me a story?"

Miu relaxed further into the pillows, ignored the glance that Kakashi shot her and told her little brother the story of the tortoise and the hare.

An hour later, Naruto had been tucked in and Miu had started working out a lesson plan for the boy in a fresh new notebook in which she would record progress as time went on.

She would start him on daily stretches, train his dexterity and hand-eye coordination as well as test his creativity and problem solving skills. Which meant lots of hand games, drawing, calligraphy, playing ball, tag, and hide and seek. She'd wait to unlock his chakra until he was at least five and a half. Six was probably a good age.

After she'd created a list of things she should teach him and made a rough schedule until he started the academy, she'd picked up her work on cracking the seal on the Takara scroll she had found in her library. She was excitedly close to figuring out the security mechanism, but had taken a break to work on some paperwork that had come with Naruto's adoption that she still had to finish.

She leant her chin in the palm of her left hand, elbow planted on her desk and looked at the papers she'd been filling in. She reread the last page carefully again, needlessly, since she'd already memorised the text written on it, tapping the end of her pen restlessly against the surface of her desk.

She was putting this off, she knew. Had been for a few days now.

Miu closed her eyes and sighed, dropping her pen and cradling her head. There was a headache forming and she pressed the tips of her fingers into her scalp, trying to cut it off before it became worse. The weight of apprehension was heavy in her gut, contributing to the general feeling of misery.

She grit her teeth. Come on. Get this over with. If he says no, it's fine. There are others. I'll think of something.

She got out of her chair and forcefully walked herself across the hall to Kakashi's room, knocked before she could change her mind and came in when he gave his permission.

Miu's eyes found his immediately. He sat on his bed leaning against the headboard, legs crossed at the ankles and book in hand, a finger marking his place. Something in his eye sharpened at whatever he read in her body language, though Miu didn't pay it any mind and crossed the room to his desk.

"Sorry for disturbing you, Kakashi, but I wanted to talk to you about something."

He nodded. He wasn't wearing his headband, making that grey mop of his flop around a bit with the motion, his left eye was kept closed. He was missing his vest as well, just leaving him in his skin tight sleeveless undershirt. Her eyes marked the ANBU tattoo on his shoulder and didn't let her eyes linger. He looked relaxed like this, softer.

And positively sexy, her mind helpfully supplied. She cut off that voice before she outwardly reacted. A bit incredulous that despite her worried state her mind still managed to find its way into the gutter.

Miu pulled out his desk chair, turning it around to face him and then sat down, back straight, legs crossed, hands in her lap. He set the book aside and moved to the edge of the bed, sitting down properly to face her. She ignored the annoyingly loud beating of her heart and sighed.

"What is it, Miu?"

It'll be fine. She reassured herself again, but didn't believe it that much more the second time around, C'mon, don't screw this up.

She fidgeted in the chair and didn't look him in the eye when she started speaking. "I adopted Naruto about two weeks ago and of course, there was a lot of paperwork involved. One part…one part of it was rewriting my will." They were shinobi, rewriting a will with the addition of a family member was not that surprising, but this was about Naruto, and she had no other family anymore to take care of him when she died. She took a fortifying breath and set her shoulders, looking him in the eye. He was relaxed, eye patient, that razor sharp edge still present.

"Kakashi, should I die before Naruto becomes a genin, would you be willing to take him on as your ward?"

Was it too soon to ask? Would her words send him running in the other direction?

No matter what she'd told herself before coming to his room, Kakashi was her first and only choice. While she trusted Anko, Kurenai and Gai, she hadn't known them for long and it would be unfair to burden them with this unless there was absolutely no other way. If she picked one clan above the other, it would turn entirely political and might tip the balance of power just because the boy happened to be the Kyuubi's container. It was a ridiculous thought, but she'd seen the council argue over what should be done with Naruto and it would create strife that she didn't want her brother in the middle of.

Kakashi was her friend, but he was also independent and extremely powerful and respected. And Miu knew that while Naruto was hers, she understood and acknowledged that the boy was also his. His through his sensei and Kushina-san and she knew he felt he had a duty towards the boy, having guarded him when he wasn't on ANBU missions. She knew that sense of duty had only grown stronger the more he'd interacted with Naruto and had grown closer to him.

Miu had seen how Kakashi sometimes looked at Naruto. Like his ghosts had come back to haunt him, like it pained him to look at him. But she could also see the way the two interacted. Naruto was good at worming his way into people's hearts. She could attest to that and slowly but surely, Kakashi was crumbling. Recently, there had been more fondness than pain and Miu thought that Kakashi would soon clearly be able to see Naruto without the constant superimposed impressions of Minato-san and Kushina-san. That the duty would eventually be accompanied by a foundation of, if not love, then affection.

She carefully watched him for a reaction.

There was a flicker of pain, but Kakashi's eye stayed on her, steady and measuring and she held his gaze, wondering what he saw when he looked at her. His expression softened then, his mask pulling in that distinct way that meant that he was smiling, and Miu saw the acceptance, saw the promise in his eye before he'd said anything. It sparked a fire in her chest, spreading its warmth throughout her body.

"Miu, I couldn't ever be what you are to him, but I will. I will give him everything that I can give." The conviction in his voice lifted a weight off her shoulders, untwisting that ball of fear in her gut. He said it like he was swearing it, swearing it like he would brand his soul with the conviction of it and Miu felt her own echo it in a whisper of protect, protect, family, mine. Ours.

"Thank you, Kakashi." Her voice was hoarse with emotion, because now, even if she were to die tomorrow, Naruto would be safe and looked after. He would have friends whose parents accepted him for who he was and he would have Kakashi. He would never have to live as he did before she'd found him, beaten down, broken and bruised, wary of the world around him.

"No, Miu. Thank you." She blinked in surprise, not expecting the vehemence in his voice and he looked away, his voice soft as he continued. "After…after Minato-sensei died, I couldn't take care of him," There was a bitter tone to his voice, a hint of self-loathing darkening his words. "I was only able to guard him from afar, but I couldn't stand to look at him, to properly face him." He ran a hand through his hair, the movement rough and shaky.

"Minato-sensei took care of me after—after… and yet I didn't leave ANBU to take care of him, I couldn't do the same for his son."

He was silent for a moment, before he continued, softly. "In a way, I've been running away from him all this time."

"I'm not a kind man, Miu. I don't know how to handle kids, I don't even remember being one. After years in ANBU, I don't remember how to be without that mask. How to even be human. I couldn't look after him but from a distance." Miu's chest ached as she considered that, considered her friend. He was looking at his hands, as if seeing blood that wasn't there. Expression almost…lost.

Not good enough, not fast enough, not safe enough, hands too bloodied…I couldn't. She could almost see the thoughts swirling around him.

Look at me, she wanted to say. She almost reached out to cover his hands with her own to break his gaze, but then he continued and she was pinned in place.

"But you, Miu, you took the kid in the first time you saw him. You've given him a home and I know you love him to pieces." He looked up at her and Miu was taken aback at the intensity of his gaze. There was a sense of wonder in his words that took her breath away. "Miu, you gave me a chance to get to know him, to become accustomed to him, slowly. Naruto is so much more than just an image of his parents and you helped me see that."

Miu smiled a little tremulously, surprised but humbled, knowing it must have taken Kakashi a lot to open up about this.

"I'm no saint, Kakashi." She whispered. "I needed to be needed and you know I could no sooner leave a kid out to freeze or return him to the place that got him in that condition in the first place than I could chop off my own arms."

He was looking at her fondly and Miu felt her face warm at the expression.

"You're such a bleeding heart, Miu." He teased, voice soft. But he didn't let her brush this off, almost stubborn in his praise. "We all see what effort you go through to make his life as easy as possible. Adopting a boy that is a pariah like Naruto is no easy feat. It takes determination and a strong will and I've heard about how you handled the council and the shopkeepers that threw him out. You've given him friends and had their parents agree so that Naruto wouldn't feel the pain of them being pulled away from him by their parents. That is amazing, Miu."

Miu's face was cherry red, she was sure, as she stuttered out a thank you. The words brought a tightness to her throat and a sting to her eyes, because it was Kakashi saying this. She respected this man immensely, a friend that she treasured and she felt a bit overwhelmed at how much those words meant to her. She'd just been doing this because it was for Naruto. That made sense, right? The kid was only five, he had no one to depend on but her. She was the one that would provide, be it with shelter, with clothes or love. She would do the same for any of her precious people. Anything, so they felt loved and safe as well.

Because damn it, she had been so broken and lonely after the death of her parents. Naruto made her focus on him and pulled her out of her heavy thoughts to his bright smiles and eager questions and she wouldn't give it up for the world.

She started at the familiar weight of his hand atop her head and she blinked out of her daze to look at the man kneeling in front of her. His visible eye was solemn, a wariness and a pit of endless grief there that made her insides clench, reminding her of that boy with dead eyes that told her that he'd killed his only remaining teammate, the promise to the other boy of his broken team left in tatters.

"I accept Miu," He said softly, "But, don't you dare die."

Miu grinned, because it was that or succumbing to the tears that burned behind her eyes and the sobs that got stuck in her throat.

"Of course! I need to make jounin and then get a genin team that I can teach whatever I want. Besides, I'm gonna be here for years and years. I'll see that boy become something amazing," She scoffed, "I'm not gonna give Naruto to you that easily. But big sisters need to make contingencies and you're my plan B, so you can't die either, you hear me?" There was a fierceness in her voice and her eyes towards the end of her rant, blue boring into grey.

Kakashi nodded once, decisively, before his eye curved in a smile. "Of course, I wouldn't give up annoying you for the world."

"Yeah, yeah, you bastard." She grinned, swatting at his shoulder. The tension left her body, relaxing as they fell into familiar banter. "I just want you for your dogs anyway."

"Oi!" She rolled out of the chair to dodge Kakashi's swipe and laughed at her friend as she put the chair back at the desk.

"You're spoiling them too much, Miu. If you don't tone it down, they may just leave me for you."

"Giving them a place to run around and getting them snacks is to thank them for playing with Naruto and taking care of your ass." She said. "Besides, what can I do, they're just that amazing, can't blame them for seeing how great I am."

"I seriously don't know why I put up with you." He said, rolling his single eye in exasperation.

"It's your subconscious telling you that I'm awesome. No one can resist my charm." She said with a laugh, "Do you fancy some salty crackers and some tea? Or are you going to bed, old man?"

He slapped her upside the head with a folder as he walked out his door and went downstairs, leaving her snickering as she followed him.

They ended up having tea, lounging in the living room, while Kakashi told her about the nutritional needs of his dogs and they then discussed the mess that was going to be the children's play date that would be taking place next week. He'd handed her the folder that he'd slapped her upside the head with, which was apparently the classified intel on the stub of the left-over flash bang that her attacker had used to wipe all traces of chakra and scent.

There was frustratingly little information, which was to be expected, really. The herbs used to compose it originated from Kusa, there had been some kind of seed used as well, speculated to be from some sort of plant with chakra suppressing properties. There were a few of those and could be found all over the elemental nations, and it had currently been narrowed down to an area that was still way too large. Unfortunately, the evidence didn't seem to have brought up any new leads, but apparently ANBU would be trying to recreate it as such a flash bang may be useful on missions.

She glanced over at the report, mind going back to the attack.

The attack is believed by some to have been an ordered assassination.

She thought back to the Hyuuga's warnings and felt something inside of her go cold. She closed her eyes and sighed, pressing the knuckles of her fingers into the space between her eyebrows.

I'm so tired.

She hadn't been sleeping all that well, or at all some nights. Nightmares came unbidden, forcing her to deal with stuff she'd slammed back during her waking hours.

Her subconscious could go to hell for that.

She glanced at Kakashi, jolting when their gaze met. She looked away and put the folder down on her coffee table, using those precious seconds to compose herself a bit. She sat back, drawing her knees up and crossing them beneath her, her eyes lingered on the red capital letters on the front of the report that claimed it classified, before she dragged her gaze up to meet his, the corners of her mouth curving in a rueful smile.

"Kakashi, there's something else you need to hear." Kakashi's eye narrowed, but he didn't say anything, only giving her a nod to encourage her to go on, "After dinner I had a talk with Hiashi-sama. He'd…warned me that I had drawn the attention of certain factions in the village and told me that they were worried about the sudden political network I'd built up. He shared that some even thought that I was being controlled." Miu laughed without humour. "He may have alluded that certain people thought that the attack had been a botched assassination attempt and that some people may take it that I was growing to be too dangerous."

She could see the realization build in his eye, before a slow calculation replaced it.

"Do you have any idea who those factions might be?" His gaze dropped, eye narrowing as he thought. She could see a muscle in his cheek jump.

"The elder council is a logical one."

Miu nodded. "They were quite touchy about Naruto's adoption, and Danzo…" Miu's lips pressed into a grim line. "He's dangerous." He seemed to be scheming constantly, mind incredibly sharp, no matter what his physical appearance said, she was already wary of the man.

"Then there are the civilians—those that have issue with Naruto especially, will feel this to be something nefarious. Will see you as a threat."

Miu pressed a knuckle between her eyes as she sighed. "That's troublesome, to borrow the phrase, but they aren't much of a threat. My home is protected, I won't let Naruto go around alone until he can at least defend himself from civilian level threats. They can be easily swayed as well. I'll think of something."

"Their concerns and fears cannot be ignored by the elders, Miu."

She nodded. "I know that, but what can they do? I'm not doing anything illegal. I adopted a child and he made some friends. They can make nothing that I'm doing seem like an actionable offence." Miu frowned. "Besides, having Inoichi on my side," Miu grimaced at the uncomfortable feeling of stating it like that, "it may relay some of those fears of me being controlled, right? The clan is known for its control over mind techniques. They would be able to tell, so to speak, if I really was being controlled."

Kakashi nodded, though he looked grim, still.

"The third group…are the shinobi out there that wouldn't take kindly to you cosying up to clan heads and heirs. Some of those definitely hold a grudge against Naruto because of his burden as well."

Miu frowned as her mind tried to come up with things that they could do. The worst case scenario was that some of these shinobi may feel encouraged to attempt murder just because someone had already tried. But aside from that… A sudden thought came to her and she felt something in her chest drop. "They may think that I'm using my influence to get up the ranks, right?"

He nodded. "When you start working inside the village, they'll probably try to give you grief."

Something in her burned to ashes at the realisation. Even in her supposed home people would be trying to make her feel unwelcome.

She closed her eyes and thought of that small ray of sunshine sleeping upstairs. His smiling face came up inside of her mind and she couldn't regret anything she'd done to take him in and protect him, with those trusting eyes shining with love—not wariness anymore, not fear, not that deep bone exhaustion, but joy and love. Her own heart seemed to swell with the feeling and she pressed a hand against her chest, smiling as she opened her eyes.

"I'll show them that I'm not who they think I am." Her smile turned razor sharp. "I'll show them that Tsukino Miu is strong enough to get anywhere with her own power, on her own merit."

She swore it like an oath.

Kakashi's mouth curled, eyes crinkling distinctively in an answering smile.

They'd both made their way towards Miu's backyard for some fresh air after the heavy things they'd talked about that evening, settling on the railing of her porch to look over her moonlit backyard. The air was cool against his skin, the silence between them comfortable.

Kakashi felt distinctly grounded in the moment, present like he hadn't in a while now. He was aware of the ground beneath his feet, the cold wash of autumn air against his skin, Miu's steady presence to his right and all the thoughts swirling inside of his mind.

The worry, but also the respect for his friend.

Miu, the eternal trouble magnet. He couldn't help but admire her, honestly. Her ability to bounce back from her falls was incredible. He had always seen glimpses of this determination and fire in her when she was a child, but to see it now, when she had matured from everything that she'd been through…it was a sight to behold.

Kakashi's thoughts went to the conversations they'd had earlier, specifically thinking back how for the second time, he'd opened up to her. It was disconcerting and terrifying, but Miu met him head on with nothing but that steady acceptance and gratitude because she seemed to know just how difficult that was for someone like him. She hadn't asked for it, but accepted it when he did and that made it almost bearable.

It was humbling, to him, that Miu considered him someone worthy to take care of Naruto. She was a meticulous person and knew she must have extensively considered the pros and cons of the situation. The moment he'd accepted her request, he'd felt like he'd passed some sort of test, had seen her relax like some great burden had been lifted off her shoulders and had seen the warmth in her gaze; that deep well of gratitude.

It was just like her to make sure for every eventuality. The corners of his mouth twitched up.

A good sister, indeed.

Overprotective, always analysing, but also kind. Damn it if she didn't have her heart in the right place. Miu wasn't one to turn away someone that needed help and her heart always seemed big enough to love the entire world.

It had been what had saved him from completely falling and burning.

Now that he thought about it, he hadn't broached the subject of her parents' death yet. Hadn't spoken about it since she'd informed him of it in front of the memorial stone.

There was something that had been nagging him since that day. Of course, one of the first things he'd done was looking up her report on the incident and had read between the lines of professional and objective sentences to the despair that she must have been feeling.

The lack of anything related to her parents, had drawn his attention when he'd first visited her home. The clues were in the negative spaces, sometimes. And there were many of them when one knew where to look. He could see missing trinkets, how there were no pictures, no evidence from their much shared travels.

Miu seemed to have completely forced away any reminder of the two people that had been everything to her.

"Shut up." He almost startled at the bluntness of the amused command, looking over to see his friend looking at him with an exasperated smile on her face.

"But I didn't say anything."

"I could hear you thinking from here, Kakashi. C'mon spit it out, what's on your mind?" She asked as she turned around, leaning her hip against the railing and quirking an eyebrow. She was smiling at him and he wanted to quip back something lighthearted.

Instead he asked her the question he wanted to ask and watched Miu's smile falter before it fell away completely.

"What happened the day you reached Konoha?"

A/N: So, there we have it. Some plot, some character development. This portrayal of Hiashi probably seems a bit out of character, but I reasoned that he still is very stern and demanding, but his wife is still there to soften his edges a bit.

Also, about Miu's claim that Kakashi is on time like 'always', I figured that Kakashi's tendency for lateness, poor excuses and reading porn in public started after he'd left ANBU. I can't imagine tardiness being acceptable in such an elite group of shinobi and so he doesn't have that habit yet.

Well and here we have some Kakashi/Miu moments. Their friendship needs to mature just a bit more before I build a relationship on top of this, but I hope this is a good start.

Regarding reviews concerning the pacing; I hear you. The story will be picking up speed in about two chapters. There will be a timeskip to Naruto's first year at the academy soon as well. Thank you all for your patience, I really appreciate it.

Also, what was your favourite scene in this chapter? Any constructive criticism is always welcome!