This chapter will introduce a new character that was mentioned in the previous one.

Although I entered Haine into the academy, I don't plan on focusing on telling her story while she is in it, although she spends the majority of her time in there. Once she learns Kage Bunshin, she won't be limited there anyways.

Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"Good morning, everyone! My name is Matsuzaki Midori and I will be your instructor for the rest of the year," our teacher introduced himself, standing behind the podium with his name written with chalk on the board.

I stared at him blankly from the back, finding no words to express how much I wanted to leave the classroom.

Fortunately, I got placed in a class with only less than thirty students. Anymore and I think I'll faint.

I placed myself in a corner at the back; somewhere I thought would be deserted since the children were still all high from seeing Minato in the entrance ceremony. Well, I understand why - the Hokage isn't a public person after all.

However, the table wasn't deserted at all. As soon as I thought that I found a safe place to sit without feeling nervous around a person, a boy sat beside me - well, not really beside me as the table was long and he sat on the corner as I did - but that was enough to make me tense.

It's great that he didn't try to make conversation, though. I don't know if I could have spoken normally.

"Alright! To learn more about each other, please introduce yourselves. Starting from..." I got a bad feeling as soon as his eyes met mine. "There and we'll go zigzag, okay?"

He pointed at the boy next to me who only calmly smiled before standing up to introduce himself.

"Ichinose Kieru, five years old. I want to become a shinobi so that I can live on my own. I sell rice candy so if any of you want some, you can buy from me. That's all," he said all he wanted to say and sat back down, still with that smile on his face.

My eyes turned wide. That was an awfully straightforward introduction. Maybe that's what I'll do.

All eyes turned to me and I forced myself to stand. I'm just going to introduce myself, no problem! I talk with the Hokage everyday, live with the genius Hatake Kakashi and am known for being the Hokage's daughter by the entirety of the shinobi corps so why should I be nervous in front of kids?

I feel stupid being so nervous. I feel stupid for trying to imitate a five year old kid.

I put on a smile and started, "Hello, my name is Namikaze Haine and I'm five years old too. I hope that this year serves as a good training foundation for the future."

And that was it.

Or so I thought.

It seems that the kids somehow knew that I was their Hokage's daughter - figures because he just introduced himself a while ago and his name is still fresh in their minds - so after the introductions were over and Midori-sensei dismissed us, most of the kids flocked around me.

I thought of getting out before they reached me but it would look weird if I run straight to the door.

I wanted to faint. At least I would be able to escape this.

"You're Hokage-sama's daughter?"

"You don't look like him at all!"

"Hey, how can your hair be so red?"

"I guess you can be called as pretty..."

"Haine-chan, right? Can I be your friend?"

"Hey, let me meet Hokage-sama!"

"Say, my mom told me that you live alone?"

"Eh? That's so cool!"

"What's with your hands, why are they so heavy?"

"Teal eyes...they look close to Hokage-sama's eyes but they're really not the same shade..."

"Haine-chan, how come your clothes look so cool? I want them too!"

I cannot take this anymore. I was about to say so as nicely as I could because I really was having a hard time to breath by the sheer number of students around me when I noticed that the boy - what was his name again? - heading out without looking back.

Woah. What a peculiar kid, really.

Come to think of it, I need to buy the materials that Midori-sensei mentioned we would need for the year today so I can train without interruptions tomorrow night.

Now, how do I get out of this circle...?

Before I could even do or say anything, I found myself outside of the classroom, looking up at a mask that looked suspiciously looked like a butterfly. In other words, ANBU saved me.

I blinked. "Oh, uh, thanks? Can you please let me down?" The ANBU did so, placing me gently on my own two feet before standing up straight again.

In the distance I could hear my classmates' loud voices, no doubt confused or amazed at how I was able to disappear so quickly. I looked at the ANBU again. "Uh, I appreciate you getting me out of there, ANBU-san but won't it be bad to suddenly disappear in front of children?"

There was a tense silence for a moment.

The ANBU tilted their head. "It doesn't matter."

Of course it matters! They're going to be all over me tomorrow as well at this rate!

I mentally face-palmed - I don't even want to bother myself caring at this point.

"So can you shunshin me to dad's office, then?"

The ANBU shook their head. "The Hokage's office cannot be entered through a shunshin. Will in front of it, suffice?"

New information gathered, thanks ANBU. "Yeah, that'll do."

And I found myself in front of a large door, unlike what I've been accustomed to seeing every day.

"ANBU-san, this is not my dad's office." I looked out of the large window behind us. "We're still in the academy."

No one answered and I knew, before I even turned around, that the ANBU was gone.

My eye twitched.

Rude.

Nonetheless, I knocked on the door. The ANBU wouldn't have brought me here just to play around with me. I don't think I ever did anything to trouble them, after all.

"Come in," Minato's voice came from inside and I blinked in shock. What was he doing here in the academy?

I pushed open the door and immediately stepped to the right as I avoided a running three year old Naruto from crashing onto me.

He skidded into a full stop before turning back to me, grinning.

"Nee-san! Nee-san! Look at this!" He held his arm out to me. I noticed that he had on a bracelet with the same design as mine, only coloured blue. I also noticed a small kanji on its material. It looked a bit different, though... Oh, it's upside down.

Smiling, I corrected its placement. "It's upside down, Naruto. When you wear it, wear it like this, okay?"

Naruto nodded, grabbing my hand and dragging me inside the office where Minato was once again furiously stamping the papers.

"Good morning, dad," I greeted, sitting down on the sofa at the corner where Naruto's playpen was located.

Minato stopped for a moment, smiling at me. "Good morning, Haine. How was your day at the academy?"

I wanted to ask why he was here and not the Hokage Tower but I felt like I needed to answer his question first. "It was okay. You're really popular though. It seems like civilians still don't know my face even though I go to the marketplace all the time so most of the kids were excited to meet me - daughter of Hokage-sama."

"That's normal. Make sure to interact with your classmates, alright? You need to get rid of your social anxiety."

I felt myself pout. I knew that staying this way would be detrimental to my social life and as humans are generally social people, I needed to acclimate myself quickly.

"I'll be good," I responded, watching Naruto play with toy kunai. He picked one off the floor before throwing them at me. In turn, I threw them back beside him. "By the way, why are you working here?"

"This office was originally the Hokage's office. The one you saw in the tower was only temporary. I had this office renovated for Naruto before."

And it took two years?

I decided not to ask, knowing that it was somehow related to Naruto again.

"So I'll have to report to you as soon as I finish class, is that it?"

Minato smiled. "No, I just want you to have lunch here every day you have class. That takes care of visiting Naruto, right?"

I blinked. This arrangement actually makes it extremely convenient for me.

"Uh, sure, I guess. Thanks?"

He laughed. "Why do you sound so confused? I just want to have lunch with my daughter."

I felt cold sweat run down my neck as I stood up, about to leave.

I'm sure his intentions are all good, but I'm still unused to being treated this nicely by anyone yet so starting to do so freaks me out a bit. I'd like it if he just returned to treating me like how you do a neighbor's kid.

"Nee-san!" Naruto totally broke me out of my thoughts as he jumped into my arms. Considering I was only a foot taller than him, I fell down on my butt, trying to catch him.

As I was mooning over the pain, Naruto was thumping his clenched hands on my chest. If I had breasts I would have punched him off me at that moment.

"Take me for a walk!"

Naruto beamed.

I stared at him in deadpan.

Is he a dog?

I looked at Minato for support but only found him with his mouth open. He was gaping.

"Nee-san~!"

I turned my gaze to Naruto, about to refuse his request since I was about to go to the market. Naruto was less known than me but if those who knew me saw me with him, it would take no genius to make the connection.

I don't think Minato would want Naruto to gain unwanted attention. So far, only the shinobi corps knew of him besides the council of elders.

Minato doesn't like taking risks, especially when his family is involved.

Who knows what Iwagakure would do once they find out he had another child.

I'm surprised that I haven't been targeted for any kidnapping actually! I thought they would act immediately once they knew of my existence. It's either they don't have knowledge of my existence yet or they know that a kidnapping attempt would be too predictable.

Even I could guess.

I looked at Minato once again. He looked like he wanted to permit Naruto against his logic but also didn't want him to go with me.

I understood him. If he didn't approve, besides wanting to pamper his child, Naruto would cry rivers and I doubt he'd be able to finish any work for the following week since he couldn't just ignore a pouting Naruto. On the other hand, too many risks might come forth if he let him.

Besides, I don't want to babysit Naruto in the streets! I can't even relax when I'm by myself or with Kakashi, how can I take care of a hyperactive three year old kid who has no sense of danger? Impossible.

I lifted Naruto off me and stood up, placing him on his feet. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I have something I need to do today, so next time okay?" I smiled at him gently, hoping desperately that it would work.

"Naruto, your sister needs to take care of her studies so she can't take care of you right now. What about asking me? Do you want to take a walk with daddy?"

Oh God. He sounded so sweet I almost cringed.

Naruto pouted. "I don't want with daddy!"

Both I and Minato froze.

Oh this kid is good at torturing his father.

Minato looked like he was about to cry.

Being the strongest man in the village didn't mean that you were immune to your child's attacks, I guess.

"I just can't. Maybe tomorrow?"

"I want right now!"

"Look, Naruto. You need to stop acting so spoiled. Just because you want it right now doesn't mean that you can get it straight away. That's just selfish."

"I don't get it."

He looked confused. I guess I did talk a bit too fast... Well, at least he isn't crying...

I patted his head. "I'll make a deal with you, then! When you understand what I said just now, then I'll take you for a walk anytime you want!"

His grin shined so much it hurt.

"Deal!" He ran to his dad. "Daddy, help me!"

Minato just looked relieved that the situation was resolved nicely. "Sure, Naruto."

I was also relieved. That was a bit exhausting even though I didn't do anything. I peered at the sun from the window, deciding that it was time for lunch.

"I'm going to the market area, dad. Do you want me to buy Naruto anything?"

Minato shook his blond head. "Buy him a regular-sized ramen from Ichiraku for me?"

"The one with less salt than normal?"

He smiled, nodding.

"Okay then, I'm off!"

"Bye, Haine."

I closed the door and headed towards the stairs.

What should I eat today?

"Haine!" a voice called out from behind me.

I blinked when I saw a Kakashi haphazardly breathing like he had run a marathon.

"Kashi? What's wrong?"

"Have you seen Anko?"

Anko who? Mitarashi?

He facepalmed, earning the looks of the villagers around us. I immediately smiled at those looking to diffuse their curiosity.

"Right, you wouldn't know her."

"Why? Are you looking for her?"

Kakashi sent me a look like he was asking me if I was stupid.

"I'm avoiding her. If you see her, tell her that I went to the training ground forty-four. She has purple hair and - you'll know when you see her."

I raised my brow. Why does he think I'm going to help him when I don't even know the full details?

"Hatake Kakashi!" a voice called out and Kakashi froze. He just froze and before I knew it, leaves were falling down in front of me.

Huh. I really need to learn shunshin. It's real convenient.

I was about to go on my way when a stomach appeared in front of me. Really, why is everyone obstructing me today?

I stepped back to avoid kissing the stomach and looked up before desperately clenching my teeth so that my jaw wouldn't fall down to the ground. Mitarashi Anko stood in front of me, looking ragged and positively - wait, why's her hair blue?

Her eyes bore onto me and I immediately understood why every kid was afraid of Anko one way or another in canon. I can't explain but she sent shivers up my spine.

I tried to smile. "Uh, do you need me for something?"

"You're the Namikaze brat, right? The one who's got Hatake whipped?"

I blinked. Say that again?

She seemed to take my shocked silence as an agreement. "Great, I was looking for you."

What? Isn't she looking for Kakashi?

She shoved a pile of folders in my hands. "Give these to Hatake. Oh, and tell him that I'll call Gai on him if he doesn't."

"Uh, sure."

Anko gave me a smile and I couldn't help but smile back. Wait, I was just scared of her a while ago. Why do I even have to obey her anyway? Just as I was about to give her back the folders, she waved a hasty goodbye and disappeared.

Ninjas.

Mind I remind everyone that the two of them talked to me in the middle of the street?

I scurried away to the side to avoid the looks.

I just want to buy some things, why do I have to meet with so many people along the way?

"Haine. Haine. Wake up."

I slapped the hand which was shaking me awake before trying to open eyes. My eyelids were too heavy but I managed to open them at least halfway...only to see the ground - and a bit of my hair.

That sure woke me up.

"What in the world - wha?" I tried to stand up but found that I couldn't place my feet anywhere.

I shifted, noticing that I was carried on someone's shoulder - a specific someone actually.

I grabbed the white hair beside me with my two hands as I observed our surroundings. We were headed to the training grounds if the lack of buildings is to be considered.

"Kashi, what's your problem this time? It's still so early!" I mean, the darkness is still in full mode. I can't even say it's dawn.

And no, I'm not a morning person.

He didn't answer me the whole trip to the training grounds but so that I could express how displeased I was of the situation, I kept my tight hold on his hair, making sure that I was about to rip off a chunk of it as I pleased.

Once we were in the middle of the training ground we often used, he put me down without a word as I glared at him sleepily.

"So? What am I doing here? I need to go to the academy at eight," I grumbled, crossing my arms. I was still in my pyjamas, goodness. I'm also a kid! I need my sleep so that I can function normally.

He shrugged. "No problem, I still have seven hours to teach you how to use your chakra."

Seven hours? It's freaking one AM in the morning and you decide to just teach me chakra? This is so detrimental, it hurts.

Our training sessions two years ago started at the same time, but we changed it to before dinner instead so I could replenish the energy I lost by dinner and at the same time, have enough energy for the morning socialization I needed to accomplish at the market and with Shikaku.

"What? I thought you'd be happy about it."

"I've already activated my chakra."

"I see. That makes this easier then."

Awkward silence.

I shook my head in frustration. "Look, Kashi. For five years, I survived without ever tapping into my chakra, so I think I can last one more day." We didn't have to come to the training ground one hour past midnight just so he could teach me. Actually, if I wanted to, I could've taught myself. I just had to actually try to use it, right? It's not like my awareness of it weakened or something. I don't think that could ever happen because chakra is literally inside me.

I know that I should be jumping in excitement at this point in time and I know that I would have been doing that - if only he didn't propose the idea at one in the freaking morning.

I was in a bad mood.

And he knew it.

"I'll teach you the Shadow Clone Jutsu if you get this right in six hours."

I blinked. Okay, that's actually not that bad. But... "Who says I even have enough chakra for that?"

"Your lineage, actually," Kakashi deadpanned.

That actually makes a lot of sense. I could use the clone to attend school...you know what? I'm suddenly all geared up to do this. Who cares if it's in the morning? Who cares that I should still be asleep? I'm ready to learn! I'm ready to be productive!

"Let's do this!" I cheered to no one in particular.

"Alright, alright so just get down from that log already."

Did I already mention how I loved Kakashi? I didn't? Well, now you know.
We started on trying to coat my hands with the chakra since it was easier to use my hands as a surface to release it than other parts of my body simply because I was still a beginner.

To be honest, it was pretty easy when Kakashi properly explained it to me. He also showed me how he did it and strangely enough, I could do it. No wonder it's the easiest.

Once I could do it professionally enough, we moved on to coating my whole body - which took a lot of time on my first try since I didn't know how to control it and I literally tried to release all the chakra from my hands to spread it over my body. A stupid move.

Kakashi explained that like my hands, my body can release chakra anywhere so I just had to try and let out the chakra from everywhere.

It was pretty hard. It took me one hour to do it and since the released chakra evaporated as soon as I let go of it, I was worried that I would burn out my entire reserves.

Thankfully, Uzumaki had naturally large reserves. I mean, I'm sure that my reserves aren't as big as Naruto's but Kakashi told me that mine easily passed his and considering the fact that spiritual energy increases it and I have an abundance of spiritual energy, I guess everything's peachy?

It so is.

I know this is stupid but I'm so happy that I can stick a leaf on my forehead now. This is not a big deal actually, but Kakashi told me that as soon as I could do five leaves stuck on my forehead for thirty minutes, he would teach me the jutsu.

I was so hyped up that I immediately did the deed. I stuck five leaves on my forehead...and everything but one fell off.

I guess I have to do this slowly.

So I placed another one, left it for ten minutes as I tried to get used to it before placing another, and another and another. Soon, I had five leaves on my forehead. It took me two freaking hours to do this. But I guess it's better than having to waste one hundred and fifty minutes if I did it thirty minutes at a time.

I proudly looked at Kakashi with five leaves on my forehead.

"You done? That took a bit long."

I don't care that I took too long; the important thing is that I can now do it so developing it will be pretty easy afterwards...and that he could teach me the jutsu.

"So before I teach it, can you tell me how much chakra you've lost?"

Say what now? I didn't know I could do that.

"How?"

"Just feel it."

Great advice buddy, great advice.

Nevertheless, I tried to feel it and was pleasantly surprised when I felt it. Somehow, I just knew that I lost a tenth of my chakra during this exercise.

"So?"

I snapped out of my reverie. "Uh, I guess I lost a tenth."

Kakashi nodded.

Awkward silence - again.

I decided to break it this time.

"So, when are you going to teach me?"

Kakashi smiled that vague smile of his that gave me a really bad feeling.

"Who said I could teach you the jutsu when you don't even know the hand seals?"

I gaped. Right, my training thus far only included physical fitness, calligraphy with some theory, weapon handling, and political issues. I haven't even gone over hand seals yet. I mentally face palmed myself. How could I have gone three years without even thinking about it?

A hand was placed on my shoulder.

"Well, we've got lots of time."

I arrived at school late but thankfully, Kakashi felt guilty enough that he shunshined me on my previous seat without anyone noticing...well maybe Midori-sensei did since I was in class when I shouldn't have been.

Cue a wide-eyed glare that I didn't know could be done.

Well, at least my seatmate was the same boy that I met yesterday.

I think he's awfully serious with his studies considering that he didn't once look my way and just kept on listening and taking notes.

I smiled to myself. That's actually a pretty good arrangement.

Until I fainted all of a sudden without any notice at all.

I felt myself faint. I felt my head hit the table. I felt it when my seatmate tried to shake me awake and when the ANBU lifted me up.

I felt it all.

But all I could see was white.

Just pure white.

"Well, this is a sudden development," I said to no one in particular.

Silence.

"Hello? Anyone there?"

I looked around the room and proceeded to be blinded by an impossibly glowing light which I could impossibly see in a pure white space.

"What's going on?" I tried to shield my eyes but somehow, everything was just too bright.

"Uzumaki Haine...no, Maica."

My eyes widened without my permission. How did - my real name!

"To believe is to see. Do you believe in God?"

Then without warning, images began to flow into my mind.

Kakashi without his mask and only his hand covering the lower part of his face - his eyes are wide.

Two hands holding a katana.

Shikamaru dragging Naruto by the collar.

A target board with two shuriken on the center.

A boy who looked like my seatmate except older with Naruto - they're both laughing like good friends.

A dark brown background.

Kushina with white eyes.

Tsunade looking down on you with a concentrated expression.

A shuriken pinning a hand on the ground.

And then I woke up, strangely out of breath and staring at the mask of one ANBU.

What in the world was that?

I felt like vomiting.

"Namikaze Haine, blink once if you feel alright. Blink twice and you'll be rushed to the hospital," the ANBU with the swallowtail mask asked me in a monotone and soon I noticed my current situation.

"ANBU-san? Is there something wrong with my student?" Midori-sensei suddenly interjected, looking concerned but a bit overwhelmed at having an ANBU in his classroom.

I felt more than saw my classmates staring at me.

"Namikaze Haine, your answer?"

Remembering the ANBU, I faced him, blinking once and before I knew it, I was already sitting on my chair like normal.

At once, Midori-sensei started up towards me. "Namikaze-san, what happened? Why did that ANBU just appear out of nowhere?"

I blinked at her.

"Actually, I don't have the slightest idea either, sensei."

Mastering hand seals was easier than I thought it would be. As I had Kakashi run me through them as soon as I got home that night, I realized that hey, I actually have excellent finger dexterity! It doesn't change the fact that the hand seals were ridiculously, though.

"This doesn't look one bit like a snake, Kashi!"

"It's the snake seal that shinobi has been using for generations. What are you trying to say?"

"That shinobi back then didn't have the slightest bit of imagination nor creativity?"

"...just do your work."

Ha! He can't admit that I'm right!

Speaking of that night, rather, that day when I fainted in the classroom for a record of only ten seconds, I was rushed to the hospital without further delay once lunch break set in.

In a bit more detail, I stepped inside Minato's office to have lunch with Naruto to see him on his chair like normal. Another step - he was in front of me. When I looked up, he patted my head, smiled, and suddenly, vertigo. Boom, we're already at the hospital.

I think that was more faint-inducing than what I actually experienced.

The medics were frantic, not with my check-up, but with Minato's presence in the room. That didn't decrease the efficiency of their work but I think they unintentionally exerted more force than what should have been applied. That injection hurt like a - a - one-sided love. Not that I know anything about that topic but I've heard enough to know that it hurt that much!

I was fine! I just had a bout of faint headedness. I told Minato the same thing but he wanted to really make sure.

In the end, there was nothing wrong about me. Minato made sure that they double-checked, triple-checked, quadruple-checked - I think he would have flipped the examination table had he have less self-restraint because the medics seemed incompetent.

Seriously, I know that working in front of the Hokage might be nerve-wrecking but it's supposed to be their job to stay composed in all situations! How could they have passed their exams with such work ethics?

After making sure that there was in fact, nothing wrong with me, like I've been telling him a while ago, he sent me home.

Well, for good measure, he assigned another two ANBU to guard me. Great, two additional headaches. Like the four watching me sleep weren't good enough.

He didn't even let me attend the afternoon classes. Well, not that I had anything to lose.

The whole reason why that happened though was that weird dream I had. I don't know if it really is a dream or just something that suddenly popped into my mind. I just know that it was strange, weird, abnormal and completely out of place.

What were those scenes? I couldn't remember any of them clearly. It felt like talking to someone…

"Do you believe in God?"

God? The Sage of Six Paths?

"Honourable daughter, does this colour please you?" The tailor, Mira, asked me, holding up a pastel pink coloured cloth.

Whatever. I shouldn't let it bother me. I turned to Mira and nodded, "Yep."

I was in my room, being measured for a new wardrobe. Children grow up real fast so now that I'm a child myself, I'm making sure that everything I wear is a good fit for me. Too small will limit my movements while too big causes the cloth to blow up like a balloon whenever I spar with Kakashi.

"Can you make me a hoodie with that colour? Any good colour combination with it will do. Oh, and also a jacket with this style, please," I handed in a design that was incredibly popular with its practicality back in my previous life.

Mira took it, staring at it in wide-eyed wonder. "You always have such great design ideas, Honourable daughter. I'll do my best to make this for you."

I grinned. "Thanks!"

I waved them goodbye as soon as the measurements and design ideas were finished. They told me to expect them in two weeks. I think that's fast enough, considering they were redesigning my whole wardrobe which I will be wearing in the next year. Minato also made them take note that they had to make sure that all the clothes they made for me were designed for kunoichi.

With that over, I slumped on my couch, exhausted.

I was only able to deal with other people for a maximum of two hours. Those women stayed for at least four, starting from when I wake up. No wonder I feel like all the fire inside me that I planned to use for training has simmered.

No. I don't want to train right now. I want to sleep.

But I can't. Because you know what? Take a guess.

I have class.

Why do I have to deal with school even here? I've had enough of hell in my previous life, thank you.

Nonetheless, I stood up to change because I was still in my pyjamas and who went to school in their sleepwear?

Just as soon as I finished combing my hair - I really have to cut it soon - Kakashi appeared beside me.

"You're running late, Haine," he remarked dryly, watching me as I pushed past him to gather my school things.

"That's rich, coming from you."

He snorted. "Hurry up. I've got to go to the Hokage Tower right now."

I looked at him. Like, really looked at him. Kakashi is now nineteen years old and still in his ANBU gear which means that Minato hasn't convinced him to quit it yet. Not that he needed to quit. This Kakashi is different than the one from canon. Minato and Kushina didn't die, therefore, Kakashi didn't lose the remaining most important people of his life yet. Which means that he didn't have the opportunity to develop his stupid suicidal tendency in canon.

I felt myself form a grin. That's way better.

He shot me an annoyed look. "Are you done?"

I nodded and soon, we were flying through the air.

"You need to flick your wrist a bit more. Like this," Kakashi instructed, throwing a kunai to the target board, only to hit the dead center.

I resisted the urge to groan in frustration.

I've been practicing kunai throwing for the last five days after my class at the academy and I've been getting nowhere. By this point, I had a three over ten chance of hitting the target board. Most of my kunai don't even hit the board.

I threw another kunai and sulked as I watched it drop before even reaching the target.

This is going to take much longer than I thought.

"Okay, time's up. We'll continue tomorrow," the silver-haired ANBU remarked.

I nodded, a bit disappointed that I couldn't continue. I've been at it for four hours, though so I can understand that I need a break. Besides, evening is for fuuinjutsu so I won't be able to continue without feeling guilty, anyway.

Kakashi and I moved to collect the kunai around the grounds before placing them all in a scroll that he hid in a compartment on the wall. We weren't worried that anyone might chance upon it because we owned the grounds.

As soon as we reached the living room, we ate dinner before I locked myself up in my room, eager to start on my calligraphy practice.

I've been making good progress on my penmanship the last three years and Minato has started complimenting me on it too. I think it's about time that he decides my penmanship is finally perfect enough for him to start working on his promise of teaching me.

When I tried to reach for my brush, Kakashi entered the room - the locked room - with one kunai and a few target boards in his hands.

"What? What are you going to do with those?"

There goes his half-smile. "Stab each of these boards five hundred times tonight using this one kunai."

What? What is the purpose of doing something like that aside from destroying my floor?

He placed them on the floor beside me and disappeared.

How can anyone be so annoying without even doing anything that really wrongs me?

Looking at the equipment, my curiosity sparked a bit at the thought that maybe Kakashi instructed me to do this because it was a way to get better at kunai throwing.

And so I stabbed the five target boards five hundred times each in the center and found that after I completed the task, my mind felt completely refreshed.

The next day, after class, I finally hit the dead center.

Kakashi slapped my shoulder lightly. "All it needs is a killing intent."

I had to still improve my technique, though.

Nonetheless, I'm still happy.

Ichinose Kieru is a six-year old boy who looks entirely too thin for his age and body type.

Basically, he looks as if he's not getting fed enough.

He studies hard - I can see that because he's my seatmate ever since the Academy started, quiet and appears introverted but actually has enough charisma to make the class listen to him. I found that out when he was asked to explain his understanding of chakra.
Everyone literally quieted down when he began to speak. He had this voice that wasn't loud nor soft. It was average in level. I can't explain it well, but he was a well-respected person in class - as much as a kid can be respected by fellow kids.

One thing I noticed about him was that he never initiates a conversation. That suits me well enough because I'm not a social person myself and if he doesn't want to particularly talk to me, then I wish he can be my seatmate forever.

That didn't mean that I wanted to meet him in the market of all places while he was being bullied by some arrogant civilian academy kids.

What am I thinking right now?

I didn't know that Kieru could fight like that.

Because despite being the one who is clearly being bullied, he was taking it like it didn't do anything to him. Which it did! I swear that cut on his temple didn't come from just out of nowhere! But he was clearly ignoring the bullies, looking at a paper on his hands.

Eventually, the bullies went away, which was to be expected as bullying is generally done by those who entertain themselves by hurting others.

I looked back at him, wondering what he was going to be up to.

Kieru was shivering, his fists clenched. I could see now that the bullies had dirtied his clothes and placed more than a few bruises on his skin which I figured hurt but would take not much time to heal as they were only on the surface level.

However, now that I think about it, Kieru always wears jackets whenever he was in the academy and he always, always had an adhesive bandage on his face. I ignored things like those because being a shinobi wanna-be, injuries are only a part of the training process. They're normal - only if they're accidental, not because they were inflicted on you.

Kieru must have finally noticed me as his wide golden gaze rested on me. I tensed. I knew those eyes. They were the eyes which I should have been looking at if Naruto had become an orphan.

The determination to live, to succeed, to survive.

Ichinose Kieru is an orphan and now, I realized why he studies so hard and why he looks like he doesn't have enough food.

The orphanages in Konoha weren't exactly the best of the best. Some of them were more a pain in Minato's ass just because of the caretakers not doing a good enough job.

Apparently, Kieru came from that orphanage.

That much I could deduce.

As his gaze bore on mine, I had the sudden urge to run because no, I don't want to involve myself in another person's life. As much as I sympathize with his situation, I couldn't - shouldn't get involved.

Yet, I smiled and approached him.

"Good morning, Ichinose-san. Are you shopping for groceries?" I asked him, actually trying to avoid looking at his filthy clothes, spotted bruises and abrasion on his face.

Crap. Why did I do that? I should have smiled, waved and walked away.

Now, I have to deal with a kid who might not want to be my seatmate anymore if I screw this up.

I don't want to lose such an ideal seatmate.

He seemed taken aback that I had actually spoken to him. "Um, yeah. I was hoping to get in time for the sale at that store. But something...happened and now I'm late for it."

I knew only one store that gave discounts at this day. We shopped in the same store. However, something that really hit my mind, though, was that that particular store only sold instant products. Surely, he wouldn't sacrifice his health for a few hundred ryos...?

I didn't know how naive I was regarding the poverty of the village - or poverty in general.

"Really? We're going to the same shop, then! Do you want to go there together?"

I don't know how I can keep this kind of act but it's going pretty well basing on the startled look on Kieru's expression.

He seemed to be a bit overwhelmed because of the randomness of the situation. I'd rather not think about it being because I'm the Hokage's daughter.

"Sure. What are you buying?"

"Just some condiments."

Two kids together in the street on their way to shop groceries is not at all strange if you knew who they were and what they could do. But in the civilians' eyes, it might be strange because five or six year olds normally don't have the concentration and focus to buy groceries of all things.

That's why when we reached the store, the owner immediately recognizing me since I shopped all the time in his store, we were given fifty percent discount just because we were kids - ignore the fact that since it was me, that was to be expected.

I had a great time dragging Kieru around with that gob smacked expression on his face.

"Oh, by the way, do you sell rice candy still?"

Kieru, who was looking star stricken at this point when we're on our way home, nodded dumbly. I had a hard time convincing him that I was going to the same direction as the orphanage so I could walk him home but in the end, it paid off because holy crap, this section of the village is annoyingly crowded and dark. I guess this is what can be called as the red-light district? Everything is so messy and unorganized.

"Can you sell some to me tomorrow at class? I think Kashi would like them very much," I drawled out, planning to increase his allowance money with the sale.

Since I approached him, I better keep it up at least until he gets out of the orphanage. Which reminds me that I better do some research on the orphanages in Konoha. If you take one step, then I think you should take the extra mile just in case.

Besides, talking to him like this and ignoring him tomorrow won't result to any good.

I watched as his face literally lit up like a bulb at my proposition. "Okay. Thank you for buying!"

I snorted. "I haven't even taken anything yet!"

One thing that I was sure of is that it felt good to help someone because now that I think about it, helping Kieru won't do anything that will deviate me from seeing Kushina. In fact, Kushina will like it if I help him, I think. Kieru is also not a main character so I won't be changing anything drastic by interacting with him because technically, he's got no reason to get himself involved with the other main characters.

Great.

He's really the ideal seatmate.

But the thing I really like the most from this situation was that it was the first time I ever acted outside of Minato's predictions because the first thing that came out of his mouth when I entered his office that night was, "I didn't know you had the ability to make friends." He was grinning - like he won an award or something - which also meant that my action was totally out of his realm of foresight.

I think I'll be doing this more often.

I think it's pretty obvious what I want to do with Ichinose Kieru's character. I'll expand more on his character when the opportunity presents itself.

Please tell me your thoughts through a review or a PM!

Thank you for reading!