Chapter 4
"come back whenever you want Saeko-chan !"
"thank you for having me"
"it was no problem !" Yoshino beams
"I'll return the clothes when I've washed them" she promises
"let's go kid, it's getting late" Shikaku calls from the middle of the road
"I'm coming ! Thank you again Yoshino-san" she runs to catch up to Shikaku
"where do you live ?" he walks with his hands in his pockets
"in the east side, near the Hyuuga compound"
"it's far from here" he comments with a raised brow
"if I'm going to be a kunoichi, I can't complain about it. Plus, I took the roofs. Less people and it's faster" she shrugs
"weird logic but I agree with it. And you have less chance of being lost"
"yes" she nods
Twenty minutes later, they jump down on the road. She guides him to the Haruno residence and knocks. Mebuki opens the door and Kizashi is just behind her, her smile becomes a grimace when she sees Saeko.
"there you are, where were you ? Do you know what time it is ?" then she turns to Shikaku "I hope she didn't bother you, thank you for taking her home"
"she was with me and my family the whole afternoon, she didn't bother me"
"and you are ?"
"Nara Shikaku" he smirks lazily as Mebuki blanches "Do you mind if we enter ? It won't be long"
"n-no, en-enter please" they take their shoes off then sit in the living room across from the Harunos
"what do you want to talk about, shinobi-san ?" Kizashi breaks the silence
"your daughter, Saeko, has a rare gift. She is a sensor. Do you know what it is ? "
"no" he shakes his head
"a sensor is someone who can detect chakra. Depending on the individual, they can detect a chakra signature from miles away and with training, they can be even better. Saeko is one of them"
"so ?" Mebuki says "Why are you talking about the brat ? If you came here only to talk about her, you can get out"
"Haruno-san, you don't seem to understand what I'm saying. We are at war, you know that right ?" she nods reluctantly "And Saeko is a sensor, what does it tell you ?"
Kizashi understands what he means "you want her to join the war"
"yes. With training, she may become one of the best sensors in the world. Even before having access to her chakra, she could sense chakra signatures 329 feet around her. When she unlocked it, her field went from 329 feet to 2.5 kilometers without trying to"
"I won't allow it" Mebuki declares "I don't care if she could be important for this stupid war, she would have to enter the Academy for her to join the war. I won't spend any more of my money on her, even less for the Academy"
"Haruno-san-"
"I don't want to hear it" she interrupts him "Now, please, get out of my house"
"Haruno-san, I won't repeat myself" he says coldly
"and what will you do ?" she challenges him
he stands up "Saeko, where is your room ?"
"what do you think you're doing ?" Mebuki stands up too
"I wasn't talking to you Haruno-san. Saeko ?"
"follow me Shikaku-san"
Without looking at her parents, Shikaku and her climb the stairs to her room. Her mother is left sputtering to herself while her father tries to calm her down. She opens her door and Shikaku takes a look at it. Plain white walls with nothing on them not even a drawing, a clean room without personality. Not the room of a child.
he tsks "take your stuffs, we're leaving"
"Shikaku-san ?" she questiones as she packs her clothes "Can you do that ?"
"I can, I'm the Nara Clan Head. And I've decided to make you one of the clan's wards"
"what does it mean ?" she raises her head to look at him
"it means that the Harunos won't have a say in your life. It's like you a Nara from birth, you have to answer to me and me only. You also have to follow the rules of the clan and some other things you'll discover soon. Is it okay with you ?"
"yes, where will I live ?"
"you will be staying with me and my family"
"are you sure ? I don't want to impose..."
"hey, kiddo" he puts a hand on her head "it's okay. I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't alright with it. Don't worry about it, I'm sure Yoshino will be happy. She's always wanted a daughter" he smirks at her wide-eyed look
"heh ?!" Saeko's cheeks burn a bright red making him chuckles
"you have everything ?" he asks once her cheeks return to their normal tanned color
"yes"
"let's go then" he puts a hand on her shoulder as they go back to the living room
"where are you going ?! I'll call the police !"
"I'm sure they'd love to hear about the neglect too. They'd agree with my decision"
"what is it ?" Kizashi asks with greeted teeth
"Haruno Saeko will no longer answer to you. She'll be joining the Nara as a ward of the clan. The paperwork will be send to you in a few day, goodbye"
And just like that, they're gone.