#naruto!

Akiko, even though only getting snatches of sleep, still felt well rested. The first rays of light filtered through the window. She stared at it and released a small sigh, somewhat regretful at the knowledge that she would have to leave the warm embrace of Kakashi’s arms. Regardless of her own want to stay, she could not. She would not allow herself too.

Casting one more glance to his sleep, she gently traced his features with a feather light touch. Her chest constricted in sorrow as she remembered her four years with Mamaru and at the same time feeling guilty of thinking of him as she lay with Kakashi.

Kakashi breathed slow and steady with sleep gracing his face, making it seem younger, much younger without all the grief, self-doubt and regret on it. Akiko could just feel her own smile twist in sadness.

‘The past is the past and I just need to deal with it.’ She scolded herself as she carefully slipped out of Kakashi’s lax arms. As soon as she left, Kakashi let out a disgruntled sound before turning over and hugging one of the extra pillows that she had been sleeping on, and promptly buried his face in it. Akiko felt her heart warm at the adorable sight before her. With a gently smile, she quickly gathered her meagre belongings and hurried out the door but not before throwing on the shirt she had been wearing last night.

She wanted to be long gone before Kakashi woke up. Akiko hoped the hangover would keep him asleep long enough for her to get away.

The door clicked shut as quietly as she could make it, and still cautious, Akiko continued to tiptoe down the hall and only allowed herself to walk normally. She hurried over to the desk where Hisako sat, and Akiko wondered if the woman ever went home.

“So, how was he?” Hisako asked with a lecherous grin that had Akiko flushing again.

“Nothing happened!” Akiko hissed to the older woman, her voice slightly raised but she kept the volume down, remembering that Kakashi was still asleep and she didn’t know if he was a heavy sleeper under the influence of alcohol, not to mention that Kakashi probably wouldn’t hear her but she didn’t want to risk it.

Hisako just drew out this week’s rate, having already figured that Akiko would do a runner.

“You are amazing!” Akiko cried happily as most of everything she had already to go. Akiko hurriedly to finish the last of the paper work and was just about ready to leave. However, there was still something holding her back, she wanted to leave a note for Kakashi. It felt wrong of her to just leave without saying anything.

Akiko signed on the last page and handed the clipboard back but she didn’t move. She stood there, staring at the stairs she had come down from as she thought. It seemed her conflict was clear as day on her face because her attention was brought back to Hisako who gently pushed forward a pen and a small wad of paper.

Akiko gave the woman a gently and grateful smile. The other woman snorted but her eyes softened.

Akiko has a strange relationship with the inn keeper. She passed the silent woman every day and sometimes Akiko would stop for a small chat which was entirely one sided since Hisako rare talked. Akiko would talk and gush about the various things she had done that day and speticals she had seen and Hisako would answer with either a look, a smile or a raised eyebrow, all holding many meanings.

Akiko promised herself that if she ever found her way back to Konoha, she would stay here.

Pulling herself away from her reflections, the debatably young woman focused her mind on her next challenge.

What to write.

‘Dear Kakashi?’ Akiko tilted her head to the left before scrunching her face, ‘Nah, he never told me his name and it would be pretty suspicious if I used it. So, no Kakashi but what about the rest?’

She huffed as the words continued to evade her. Akiko stood there thinking, still stuck on what to write, much to Hisako’s amusement, and she continued to stand there a little longer before the inspiration finally stuck.

With a slight exaggerated flourish, Akiko let the pen come to life as she wrote down her message and finished it quickly.

“Please give this to the man I came in with? And don’t mention my name, please?” Akiko asked with a pleading smile. She didn’t want Kakashi to know that they had met again and she hoped that this second time would be the last time.

(Something in her gut told her otherwise but that didn’t stop her from hoping.)

Hisako smiled softly and nodded once. Akiko new that all would be well.

With a short goodbye and a promise to return, Akiko walked out the door of the inn ‘Destined Paths with no Paths’ without looking back.

X

The crisp morning air prickled sharply into her face, most of the street shops were closed, the sky held the barest hints of daylight which was slowly but surely creeping across the horizon.

Akiko scrubbed at her face in an attempt to warm it but gave up when the chill attacked her hands too. The woman took in the sights of the still sleeping civilian sector. Akiko wasn’t sure of the exact time but of the two bakeries that she had passed, both were closed and had no light or movement in them.  She supposed it was probably before 5 am and with this revelation, Akiko let out a wide yawn, suddenly feeling even more tired.

‘Tired or not, I’m getting out before Kakashi wakes up.’ Akiko picked up the pace as she felt her resolve strengthen.

She didn’t know how Kakashi found her and she wasn’t going to stick around to find out! Akiko lengthened her strides and forced her eyes to open, her steps matching an unheard beat. With her fear and determination as her driving force, Akiko moved swiftly through the streets.

Soon, Akiko could see the gates of the village and with her escape in sight, she slowed her steps to a pleasant walk. It seemed that the closer she got to a normal walking pace, the more she panted in execration.

As she approached the gates, she noticed two humanoid figures and then remembered the fact that the gates were guarded at all times. Akiko only hopes that whoever was guarding them today didn’t give her much grief and she certainly hoped they wouldn’t keep her around when Kakashi wakes up.

To Akiko’s relief, it was Izumo and Kotetsu. Both had seen and helped her before.

“Why are you in such a hurry to leave?” Kotetsu asked, a frown pulling at his lips.

Akiko gently gnawed on her lips, trying to come up with a way to phrase her complete and utter avoidance of Kakashi and the plot.

“I’m running from a drunk and Handsy ninja?” Came blurting out of her mouth. Both ninja opposite her tensed and suddenly Akiko could taste something heavy and a metallic tang in the air.

“Can you tell me who?” Izumo asked with a strained smile, that hinted to something more. Akiko shivered when she saw it.

‘How do I do this? I’m not going to say Kakashi because I doubt in that situation he would say his name…’ Akiko though quickly.

“He had white or silver hair and wore a half mask.” Akiko described Kakashi instead of answering Izumo’s question.

‘they’d probably ask if I knew him before if I answered with his name and if I say ‘no’ I would be lying, which I’m sure they could pick up and if I said ‘yes’ they would ask where I knew him from and that would open a can of worms!’ So caught up in her thoughts, Akiko missed the dark look exchanged between the two ninja.

X

It seemed Kakashi had just made it to their shit list, renowned and famous ninja or not.

They wouldn’t let this slight go unpunished.

X

“Are you sure you’re going to be alright?” Izumo asked with a worry and while Kotetsu echoed it with a worried frown.

“I’ll be fine but I’d rather not be here in the morning when he wakes up.” Akiko waved away their worry with a smile that had some tenseness to it.  

The longer she stayed, the more edgy she started to feel, she didn’t want to stay too long. In fact, she has already stayed longer than she felt was safe. Akiko needed to leave and it had to be now.

It seemed that the two ninja picked up on her need to leave, that or they could see the panic in her movements.

“Please don’t tell them you saw me or that you know me?” Akiko asked of the two ninja, appearing as desperate as she felt in that moment.

She saw them both exchange looks before turning to her nodding.

“Don’t worry, we won’t say a word!” Izumo grinned at Akiko, who felt a ridiculous amount of relief sweep through here. There was the most miniscule disappointment, but it was drowned by her relief.

“Thank you.” She breathed to them and started into the motion of a hug before stopping herself short, remembering her own revelation that ninja’s didn’t quite like physical contact with people they didn’t trust or didn’t know.

Both smiled at here, though there was some awkwardness chasing at the edges.

“Pass us your card and we’ll let you through.” Kotetsu motioned with his hand and Akiko couldn’t have complied fast enough.

“I’ll come back sometime, hopefully when He’s forgotten all about me!” Akiko promised, with a small smile as she walked out the gates.

“Bring us a souvenir when you do!” Kotetsu called out after her, making Akiko laugh as she turned while walking backwards.

“YOU CAN COUNT ON IT!”

X

Once Akiko was out of sight of the village, she took a moment to breath before reaching inside and pushing her presence all the way down. She hadn’t thought she needed to use this skill so soon. Plus she was getting pretty rusty.

It was something that she had picked up from a passing hunter from Iron country. He had been in the ninja hunting business until he lost an eye. Yato had stayed in her village for a month, and it had taken most of that month to get him to teach her. He had been the toughest nut to crack but he was a great teacher since she had managed to get the skill down in the week he had left at her village.

While it had occurred to her to use it on her travels, Akiko always dismissed it as she couldn’t really see the point seeing as she hadn’t really encountered any ninja, well living ninja any way. Neither had she seen a reason to hide until now.

Now she just didn’t want to be found by Kakashi or any Konoha ninja at this point, leaving her with her last option. Supressing her presence to the point it would come off to them as nothing more than a small squirrel. Hopefully, any ninja passing by that had not seen here would just keep moving.

And to keep to the unseen part of the plan, Akiko moved off the main road and walked straight into the surrounding forests and then walked parallel to the road. As she walked, Akiko began cataloguing the various plants she could dry and use, however she rarely picked any as her urge to leave was stronger.

Only when the sun had started to dip on the horizon did Akiko slow down her pace from a very brisk walk to one of leisure.  When the sun’s rays that had filtered through the leaves vanished did Akiko set up camp for the night.

With the tree leaves overhead and the left over heat from the day on the leaf litter, Akiko settled down to sleep.

X

Akiko groggily woke, it was still dark but she felt uneasy. Something was wrong. With great effort, the orange-haired woman forced her eyes open and herself into a more awake state. While she had, what she believed to be slightly above average night vision, there still wasn’t much she could see so instead she listened.

And listened.

As the time passed, Akiko could just hear it. The sound of a child crying.

Quiet sobs echoed in the dark.

Akiko frowned, ‘what the hell is a child doing out in the woods? And alone at that?’. Taking note that her presence was still suppressed, she moved as silently as she could over the grass, only stopping to re-orient herself to the sounds of the tears.

She got closer and closer until Akiko was right on top of the sound but the dark made it hard to see, even with her vision adjusted to the night. All she could see was a dirty mop of yellow. Nothing more.

With this in mind, Akiko chose not to approach the child lest she scare them. Instead. She made her presence known.

“Hello?” She called out gently and as soon as she had, Akiko heard the tiny gasp as the child stopped crying in shock. They didn’t answer back but she could hear the occasional hiccupping.

“Why are you crying?” She with a gentle tone.

The kid doesn’t answer but Akiko can see the wary look in his eyes as well as the sadness. Akiko knew she won’t be able to comfort him but she tries anyway and reaches an arm out and the boy flinches. Her mind stalls as she processes what she just witnessed. At the movement of her hand reaching out, this Child flinched as if something worse was coming. Her anger at whoever was supposed to look after this child rose. She had seen this kind of reaction before, in children scared by the war and in …Sayuri. There were times when, even the comforts of home and a family could not stop the instinctive reactions that came with the fear of starving or being beaten to an inch of your life.

But that was Rain, one of the many countries recovering from the third war. ‘This? This is fire Country where the coffers were fat and the only thing in short supply were ninja.’ Her thoughts churned as the minor details of the village came to her mind.

Slowly Akiko pulled her arm back and forced herself not to think further on those thoughts and instead on the boy before her who needed help. Her opening came in the form of a very loud stomach growl. Akiko reaches for her bag and the boy tenses. She slows her arm to a crawl as it enters the bag. She tugs out some recently acquired dried food she had prepared in her later days in Konoha.

She pulled out the whole bag and felt for the fish, that one, she knew had the most flavour and the most smell. Akiko kept her eyes on the boy before as she found the right package and opened it with one hand. She watched the boy’s nose flare as the smell wafted in the air and his eyes focus on the morsel in her hand.

Akiko brought the food to her mouth and took a bite, chewed and swallowed before once again moving slowly, holding out the food to him. She watched as his eyes darted between her. Akiko watched as the boy slowly reached out and gently grasped the fish as if it were the most precious thing he had. Instead of devouring it all at one, he took a small bite and stowed the food away.

Akiko felt her anger rise, if she ever found out who was responsible for hurting this boy, she would find a way to make them pay. The boy before her cowered slightly and her eyes widened as she immediately felt regret for make him fear her.

The boy stopped cowering, and Akiko noticed. Was he feeling her emotions? She pushed aside her curiosity, right now this boy needed her help and it was something she was going to give him. When Akiko spoke, she made sure to lower her voice and without her realizing it, it took on a motherly tone.

“Hey, it’s pretty cold. How come you’re out here alone?”

The boy looked at her carefully. “cause I got lost. Can’t find m’y class.” He answered in barely a whisper.

“Where you on an excursion?” Akiko continued to coax, feeling her compassion for the boy rise as he nodded shyly.

“What were they trying to teach you?” She asked with a kind smile.

“ ’ow to live wi’h out stuff. Like seeds and stuff.” He tried to explain while gesturing to the floor.

Akiko knew what he meant, survival training. He was in the shinobi academy. But that left the question, how did a shinobi lose a child when they are trained to notice all the details?

“Well I know how to do that. I can teach you if you want. I could teach you all that and more.” Akiko offered, feeling that it was the right thing to do. The boy looked at her curiously, as if wondering why she was offering to help him.

“D’you know more than sensei?” He asked as he regarded her with different eyes.

Akiko felt her lips shape them in a mischievous smile.

“About plants, yeah.” Something told her that this was right and her gut hadn’t led her wrong yet.

“Okay. I wanna learn.” The kid said quietly.

“First things first. Sleep. D-.“

“I can sleep on the floor!” The boy declared with a childish enthusiasm and then boldly walked to her and plopped on the floor and looked up at the stars.

Akiko raised an eye brow before once again reaching slowly into her bag, she could still see his form tense, and pulled out one of her shirts, it looked like a blanket compared to the size of the kid. She draped it on him and met his startled eyes.

Pure surprise gleamed back at her and Akiko felt her heart melt. She was going to look after this boy, consequences be damned.  

She smiled at him before bidding him a good night.

X

Morning came with an unusual restriction, there seemed to be something or someone wrapped around her like an octopus. Akiko cracked an eye open and found that she had an attachment in the form of a small boy with dirty blond hair and an equally grimy face. Nevertheless, he had such a peaceful look on his face that she found it hard to wake the boy up.

The day called, and even if she wanted to leave the boy sleeping while she does her usually, and short routine, Akiko couldn’t even do that. He was just wrapped around her too tightly. Akiko sighed internally before freeing one of her limbs and tried to untangle him.

It turned out to be a half success, he was only tangled halfway when the boy started to wake up.

Akiko watched him with keen eyes as the boy mumbled his way into the conscious world. She could feel the fond smile sneak on to her lips as he blearily opened his eyes. Slits of the bluest blue she could imagine peaked beneath the lips and she grinned.

He yawned and Akiko got a rather firsthand view of the of some rather sharp canines. She was always proud that her canines were sharp, however it looked that she had been beaten in that department by the boy.

“Good morning.” She spoke softly, as he squinted to see her face and Akiko could see the moment he realised where he was and what he was doing. The boy squawked in surprise as he jumped back, releasing Akiko like she was lava.

She couldn’t help it, Akiko started giggling.

“H-hey! Whatcha laughfen for?” He damned hotly as he glared at her indignantly, hands on hips.

“That has to be the cutest thing that I’ve seen so far!” Akiko exclaimed through her giggles.

“I am not!” The boy puffed his cheeks and stomped his foot.

That just made Akiko laugh harder. But when she saw the tears collect in his eyes, Akiko stopped laughing immediately.

“Hey, hey, I wasn’t laughing at you, I just found what you were doing completely adorable.” She gently explained, “there no need to cry.”

“I’m not cryin!” He sniffed, valiantly holding back the tears that gathered dangerously.

Akiko nodded solemnly and nodded, “Of course you’re not. You’re too brave and strong. The Great…,” She trailed off letting the boy answer.

“My names Naruto.” Akiko’s heart skipped a beat but she kept going, she couldn’t do anything with him looking at her like that, not with that shy innocent smile just hiding behind the clouds. She’d just have to freak out later. And find out why he was alone. In the woods. By himself.

“The Great Naruto is too great to cry!” Akiko continued without missing a beat and it was worth it, because it got him to smile.

“THAT’S RIGHT!” He cheered and Akiko was suddenly struck with how he seemed to trust her enough to play like this, wasn’t just this morning he was so wary, like a cautioned animal? What had caused the sudden change? Not only that, but he reminded her of Sayuri and…her- her son…

Akiko’s heart suddenly hurt, pain sharp and clear. It had been so long since she had thought about her past family, even though she was fine with their passing and hers, that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

“Alright-y then! Naruto, can I ask why aren’t you scared of me anymore?” Akiko went straight to the point.

“Cause you feel warm and, and right! And the old man didn’t wake up!” Akiko stared at the boy, surely, he didn’t mean…? And what was that with being ‘right’?

“Well, in any case! My name is Akiko and What are you doing in the woods alone?” She asked with a quirked eyebrow, now was not the time to panic, she’d do that later. Preferably when she was alone and when the bo- When Naruto was asleep.

It seemed that Naruto suddenly wilted and muttered something.

Akiko frowned at the sudden change in mood.

“Naruto?” She leaned closer to hear what he said.

“…got lost…” Akiko could see the tears start to build up again. She couldn’t help it, she hugged the boy. He stiffened and Akiko was strongly reminded the possible childhood he might have had. She had to retrain the urge to asked him and hurt people if he answered what she thought.

“That’s okay buddy. Everyone gets a little lost sometimes! I mean, I’m still lost!” Akiko tried to make him feel better.

“How are you lost?” The boy peaked through his hair.

“Well, I don’t know where I’m going! I’m just going where the road takes me! And I have no idea where I am!” Akiko explained with over dramatics, just to cheer the boy up.

“We’re in da big bushes of Konoha!” Naruto proclaimed and Akiko grinned!

“Now I’m not lost! I have a guide! Now what were you doing in the big bushes?” She quickly redirected the question back to him.

“Im gonna be a ninja! And we was doing some training! Learn’en some stuff bout plants and stuff. How they help and its really boring.” Naruto trailed off morosely.

Akiko raised an eyebrow.

“Well, I’m an expert in plants and stuff and I bet I could make it funn!” She teased out the last word as she watched him perk again.

‘I swear his moods are like a bouncing ball!’

“Can ya?” his tone was sceptical and Akiko smiled before leaning in and whispered conspiringly.

“And I bet I can do it in 30 days.”

“Prove it.” Naruto stared at her stubbornly.

She grinned.