Aspirant

After months of D-ranks, Team Seven was impatient for some action. After Amayas’ ascension to Elite Jonin, most of the Iron Steel training, except that of Team Seven was pushed to a more clandestine format to suit the various schedules involved. Besides, after Sasuke reported the Districts’ disrepair to Amaya, she had agreed that hiring Team Seven for an extended D-rank was a good idea.

So they had spent several months sorting through and renovating the District, and it was finally flourishing, many shinobi taking advantage of the shinobi residential style neighbourhoods with relatively inexpensive leases and an understanding landlady. That the Uchiha coffers grew exponentially was no doubt a point of contention between the other clans, some even losing unaffiliated shinobi and kunoichi tenants, but Amaya always pointed out that the Uchiha Clan was Blood Allied to the Hatake Clan, and they and their allegiants were six full time shinobi who needed gear, food, and housing, as well as to be able to maintain their training grounds, which were available to all Uchiha District residents.

ASPIRANT

Aisha Hatake Yamato returned from Kusa late one evening after the Uchiha District Renovations were complete. Her Anbu bound husband Tenzou greeted her out of uniform entirely. The young woman, who was the eldest daughter of Amaterasu and Kakashi by virtue of being an illegal science experiment of a former assistant of Lord Orochimaru. She’d been created from stolen DNA when Amaya was five and Kakashi six. Katon and Aishiteru had firmly claimed their granddaughter upon her discovery at five, her own parents had been uncertain but just as firm that she was theirs.

Tenzou had met her father three years later. Being twelve and eight respectively, Tenzou and Aisha had not always gotten along, but the shared experience of being experiments- Tenzous’ captor had transplanted the Shodaimes’ cells and given him Mokuton, but remained unknown- had bonded them close. Amaya and Kakashi had raised Aisha as best they could, especially after Amayas’ parents died, but it was to Tenzou that she had the strongest bond.

Which was why the weary kunoichi, despite her exhaustion being soul deep- as her mothers’ had been a lifetime ago- threw her arms around her husband of two years, silently weeping her relief that he was waiting for her. Tenzou clutched her close, euphoria racing through his veins as she murmured to him “I’m finally home Tenzou, home to you.” Heart thumping, Tenzou pulled her close for a kiss, grateful he hadn’t worn his happuri face guard, as she thrust herself into their kiss whole heartedly, grasping his head and using her tongue to open his mouth, exulted in every sensation.

Coming back down to Earth and easing back down from her tip toes, Aisha looked at his beloved face, so dear to her, and fresh tears sparkled in her silver brown eyes. Gently, Tenzou (having learned from his father in law) scooped her up, into his arms, nudging Aisha to rest her head on his shoulder. Walking, he updated her on life in Konoha. “Sasuke and your first cousin Neji have sworn allegiance to your mother as the Head of Clan Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno have sworn to your father. I think you mother will be retrieving your brother from Suna soon, she made Elite Jonin while you were gone.” Aisha made sleepy noises until he gripped her a little tighter and pushed chakra into his strides. Kakashi and Amaya could wait, Tenzou decided, he wanted Aisha to himself tonight. He headed in the direction of their walled off townhouse.

ASPIRANT

Naruto stood in front of the Missions Desk, wishing he could tap his foot or something. Sasuke stood to his right, Sakura to his left, and Kakashi-sensei was slouched behind him. Amaya was in a meeting with the Hokage, which was why they had yet to be assigned a mission. Stone faced Sasuke was staring at Iruka-sensei, seated behind the desk, also awaiting the Hokage. Iruka alternated between studying Sasuke and Sakura, and gaping at Naruto. Being the Augment, and most familiar with his teammates’ combat styles, Naruto was fukutaichou under Kakashi, as listed in their file.

However, Iruka was staring at a very different Team Seven even since the Exhibiton. Sasuke and Naruto both still wore nin pants and t-shirts, grey hitai ates on their foreheads, but aside from black nin pants, and their hitai ates, they were different. Sasuke wore a long sleeved Uchiha robe, which fell to his ankles, meeting the same of braced Anbu-style boots. His Kodachi was sheathed across his back, his belt with his bandage pouch and kunai holster sat comfortably on his waist.

Sakura wore a mint green light weight furisode, shukusen in her hand. The edges of her gauntlets peeked out of leaf patterned wrists, her hitai ate was slung around her neck like Amaya and Hinata. Her long hair was restrained by a thin golden wire, except her fringe. Her smile held a feral edge to it.

Naruto was standing stalk still, dressed in the same nin boots as Sasuke, black nin pants and a green grey muscle shirt. His belt had actual seals on it, and his own bandage pouch, while his kunai holster was still secured to his thigh. Above his left knee rode a henohenomenji, and seeing that, Iruka looked at Sakura again. Sure enough, a silver henohenomenji, barely visible against her shade of green, was sewn over her heart.

Kakashi shifted, raising his left hand, making a silver ring catch Irukas’ eye, a tinkling near the jonins’ knee had the chunin glimpsing the thin grey chord that acted as Kakashis’ belt. It was braided, and from each end hung a charm. One was a stylized golden sun, the other an upside down uchiwa.

Iruka felt a wave of emotion come over him. Naruto and his other students had become strong, but Kakashi had a wife who adored him, who he wore his love for openly now. He was glad for his former students, but just a tad jealous of the jonin.

The Hokage entered then, Amaya behind him, boldly walking to Kakashi to murmur to him before turning to leave (“I’m leaving for Suna now. I love you.”). He caught her wrist, stunning Iruka when he enveloped her in a quick hug, muttering lazily “Be safe, my precious Amaya-chan.” Shooting him a dirty look, Amaya turned on her heel and sped away.

Hiruzen teased “You treat my granddaughter so well, Hatake-san.” Kakashi eye smiled benevolently as Naruto snickered, while Sasuke smirked at the still stunned Iruka. Sakura cleared her throat and said delicately “Hokage-sama, I do not wish to take more of your time then necessary. Could we get on with it, please?” Sarutobi nodded and reviewed their file.

“Hmm, we’re out of D-ranks at the moment. A C-rank?” He offered. Iruka was wide eyed, but Kakashi replied “Maa, up to the puppies.” Sakura nodded, Sasuke grunted and Naruto grinned confidently and declared “Dattebayo, we won’t let you down, Hokage-ji!” With a guffaw, Hiruzen had the client sent in.

Tazuna the bridge builder looked at them incredulously. A boy in a dress? A girl in a furisode? The only capable looking one of the lot was the tiny blond. Sakura frowned as the drunks’ thoughts were telegraphed on his features. Sasuke dismissed Tazuna by saying shortly “We’ll be at the gate within the hour.” Grabbing her arm and charging away. Shrugging, Naruto and Kakashi leapt after them.

Hiruzen turned steely eyes on Tazuna. “You are having my grandson-in-laws’ team escort you, Tazuna, you should be grateful such an excellent team was free.” Tazuna gulped, and fled the Missions room.  Chuckling, Hiruzen returned to his paperwork, unaware of just how excellent his grandson-in-laws’ team would have to be.

ASPIRANT

Kakashi and Team Seven travelled at a sedate pace, as set by Tazuna. Passing an unusual puddle, Kakashi arched his brow at Sasuke, who nodded imperceptibly, hand resting on the hilt of kodachi.

As Kakashi got caught in the trap, Naruto, who had seen the exchange between Sasuke and Kakashi, leapt for the first of the nukenin, Sasuke sweeping in from the other direction to pin the second, Sakura stood in a defensive stance in front of Tazuna, her own kodachi in hand. Kakashi stepped out of the treeline, and asked calmly “Well?” Naruto kept his nukenin pinned, shoving his face into the dirt, snarling “What were you doing?” Sasuke, who had his nukenin face up, simply kept his kodachi pointed at his throat. He said softly “Hatake is my sensei and husband of the Head of my Clan. I think my anger may get the best of me. It would be a shame if my hand slipped.” Sakura produced a kunai from a hidden holster, ensuring the ring was extra loud. “If your hand doesn’t slip, perhaps mine will.” The young kunoichi took her turn snarling.

Kakashi rolled his eye and said “These two are Chunin level nin, the Demon brothers of the Mist, or they were.” Sasuke narrowed his eyes and Sakura hissed “Nin for hire.” Naruto slammed his elbow into the back of the Brother he was still pinning, knocking him out cold, the jinchuriki raged “Traitor bastards!” Sasuke stood, slamming his foot into the skull of the Brother he had pinned.

Sakura whirled on Tazuna, eyes barely slits and she growled “Talk, now, before I cart you back to Konoha myself, and throw you on the tender mercies of the Torture and Interrogation squad!” Naruto whistled at the bloodthirsty threat. Amaya had not only beat the fangirlishness out of Sakura, she’d beaten menace into the girl.

Tazuna scrambled to explain, about Gato and his men. Sakura raised neat eyebrows, Sasuke ‘hnned’, Naruto frowned, and Kakashi listened with half an ear as he perused his copy of Icha Icha Violence. Luckily, it was another extra special copy, so he wasn’t that mad.

September 15, Four Years Ago . . .

 Kakashi returned home from a mission, exhausted but satisfied with the result. It was midafternoon, and Aisha was outside, playing with seven year old Akashina and two year old Katsuro. Aisha noticed her father first, standing and lifting Katsuro to her hip, Akashi rising with her sister whipped around when she heard a twig break. Eyes inherited from her mother lit up, and she raced forward, calling “Tousan! You’re home!” Kakashi swung her around as she collided with his chest, greeting his other children when Aisha drew close. Hugging his children close, Kakashi remembered what an unknowing Chunin had asked a few weeks ago (“Will you ever settle down, Kakashi-san?” Having recently returned to full time jonin duty, Kakashi had shrugged the question off, but . . .)

Kakashi decided that he hadn’t settled down. He’d mated an amazing female, and they’d had a pup and a cub, taken in two more. That, was really all he needed, all he wanted. That he had another time to remember, a time of love and laughter, was extraordinary, something he certainly hadn’t expected a few years ago.

Once the kids gave him his gifts and were put to bed, Amaya plunked herself in his lap and extended a small package to the white haired male. Curiously, he opened it to reveal a copy of Come Come Paradise, but the colour was . . . wrong. Curiosity welled up, deeper and more than before. Opening it, Kakashi was delighted to find a reimagined version of his favorite book. Amaya had somehow replaced every drawing with pictures of them in the same positions as the former illustrations, the tingle of magic entrancing him to skim the pages, only to find notes on some, a magical extension containing photos of the children, words in Amayas’ inordinately delicate hand telling the shorter stories depicted in the photographs.

Looking up, he met his wife’s whiskey gaze, in awe of her, how she’d known he missed her and the children, he asked “Why?” Amaya, for all that she was a silk over iron kind of woman, was purely gentle with him and the little ones, she smiled at him and spoke softly “Hogwarts taught me much I cannot use honorably here, but I could create this. The illusions tied to it make everyone believe it is ordinary, and the only ones who can sense any different are those of the Sharingan.”

Setting aside the small volume, he laid her out on her back, stripping her of her clothes quickly, coming down hard, and his muscles locking her in the only cage she’d walk in to without question. Stretching her back as he pulled down his mask, Amaya gasped when he slipped his tongue in as Kakashis’ fingers were inserted into her cunt, the sensation driving her crazy. Aware too much noise would awaken the children, they kept each other’s mouths locked together, but Amaya bucked when Kakashis’ hand scrabbled over the sensitive skin of her back where it wasn’t scarred over from the lifesaving seals, the flickers of pleasurable stimulation were erratic, because so much had been turned to smooth scars. Amaya sank into the pleasure of her husbands’ body.

When he rose long enough to whisk them to bed, storing his gifts before cleaving his slumbering wife to his heart, staring at her bluntly feminine features. Only nine years before . . . Kakashi refused to think of losing the woman who was his heart to death. Amaya had stood by him for over two decades, had tagged after him as a child, trained with him as a teenager, and had been his lover for eight years now, longer. His heart . . . and his hope and his light, her Dawnstar title partly from her habit of training at dawn, partly from him coining the name. Though the stories of how the Constellation had become differed, they had lived- Ayano Bloodstar, Biwako Healstar, Aishiteru Flamestar, Akita Opalstar, Faith Lightstar, and the most recent, Honor Hopestar, wife of Itachi Uchiha.

Snapping out of his reverie, Kakashi drawled “Puppies?” Sasuke shot him a startled look, unused to the affection in his tone. Naruto, too, wasn’t sure what to do with such affection. Sakura stood firm and replied “Let’s do it. He may have lied to Amaya-samas’ oji-san, but . . . we do this, Wave is indebted to Konoha, their resources accessible to us, their land a resting place for our people out in the world.”

Sasuke drew out his kodachi, stroking the blade, he murmured “Sakuya . . .” Naruto stretched his arms, humming agreement. Sighing internally, Kakashi stowed his book before moving fluidly. He lunged further down the path, running down toward their destination, returning to his students and their client got very far.

It did not bode well for them that there were no complications until they reached a pond. Sakura gracefully sat and laid out lunch, while the boys scouted around before seating themselves on the blanket Sakura unsealed from a scroll she pulled from a pocket.

Just as they were cleaning up from lunch, a roar sounded behind them. Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura swung around as one, sweeping out identical kodachis to meet a zanbato wielding ninja with bandages covering the lower half of his face. Naruto and Sakura both clashed with the man, while Sasuke silently freefell, nearly severing the older males’ head, before a senbon hit the mans’ neck. Sasuke landed with a curse.

Though they disliked it, not one of the Konoha nin argued with the Kiri oi-nin who had come for Zabuza. Kakashi raised his eyebrow at his cute little genin (they might not be pretty like his daughters, or smart like his son, but they were cute) and chivvied them onward to Wave.

ASPIRANT

Zabuza awoke with a snarl. “How the hell-” Haku stared at him and said slowly “Zabuza-sama-” Zabuza roared “They nearly got me, Haku! Fuck, who the hell trained those brats?”

Haku considered this, having studied the battle before interceding, “A woman.” He finally said. Zabuza grunted, but Haku continued “The economy of motion, the planning . . . the only Swordsman who did that-” Momochi snorted and muttered “Terumi.” With an easy nod, Haku slipped away, intent on finding the things necessary to his masters’ recovery.

Zabuza brooded over the sword wielding genin, who had nearly decapitated him. Haku was right. Only a woman or very cunning man would drill them to be sneaky and work as a team, but their sensei- or rather, the jonin with them- had been a gray haired male, probably the legendary Copy nin, if the tilted hitai ate he’d seen was any indication.

What puzzled him was that no woman had ever been attached to the Copy nin, let alone such a skilled swordmaster. Although . . . during the Kyuubi, it had been insinuated, by a spy in Konoha, that the then Son of the White Fang, often mistaken for his father, had been accompanied everywhere in the Village by a traditionally dressed Uchiha girl, slightly younger than him, but who had protected the Villages’ children with a sword and a feral nature that had made the spy shiver even after returning to Kiri. Had she grown to womanhood and taught her friends’ students? Yet . . . the Uchiha had died in a Massacre committed by one of their own, the Kiri spy discovered and flayed to the bone by a furious Konoha warrior. But . . . if she had been useful to the Copy nin, he might have saved her, might have even enslaved the girl.

Zabuza was truly puzzled, because he knew no Konoha ninja would enslave another, but there had been no other Uchiha but Itachi walking in the world. If she was alive, she had either chosen to stay in Konoha- to raise her young relative?- or been forced to stay, perhaps to bear children who would inherit the kekkei genkai. If she was dead . . . then why did they fight like that? Rarely did males push their students as females did, most females either adopting the young ones as their own on some level, or desiring their students to reflect only the best of their sensei.

Whichever it was, he’d find out, because the mystery was irritating him now. Haku returned then, fed his master and urged the big man to sleep. Despite his reluctance, Zabuza fell asleep, vowing to get to the bottom of those strange genin.

ASPIRANT

Kakashi, his team, and Tazuna settled into the bridge builders’ home. Tsunami set the table, feeding them without question. Naruto was out on patrol, Sasuke cleaning his sword at the table, while Sakura was writing in a small leather bound book, making notes on something.

Kakashi was lost, as he often was, in hedonistic thoughts of his wife. They were camping in a well-kept tent in a clearing outside Konoha, Amaya lounged on a blanket outside the tent, bared to her skin for the sunlight to gild her olive skin to a golden sheen, her feminine muscle and practical, slender hands entrancing to him. Her dark hair fanned down her solid shoulders, across his lap, where he had insisted she lay her head instead of using her arms as a pillow.

She’d been barely three months pregnant with Akashina then. Her stomach hadn’t inflated yet, but they’d both been able to feel the pulse of their daughters’ chakra, had both already loved her as they loved Aisha for the last five years.

Although she rarely initiated their affection sharing, their love making, because it was rarely necessary, she did today. Using her elbows, she levered herself up and turned her face to his, pressing a kiss to the full lips of the boy who was not yet her husband, but who had sworn he would be. His callused fingers gripped her close, turning them until she lay on her stomach, so he could stroke her as yet unscarred back. The purr in her throat pleasured Kakashi as only she could. His mate was pretty and strong, wouldn’t break at the first attack, and would stand tall through any storm, though . . . she wouldn’t have to if he had anything to say about it.

The Copy nin was broken from his reverie by Tsunami calling “Inari, dinner!” Once everyone was seated, they began eating, Kakashi finishing a small portion quickly. Tsunami frowned at the man, who looked at her intently before chuckling. Sakura frowned and asked in a clipped voice “Sensei?” Kakashi shook his head and replied “She reminds me of my Amaya.” The endless love in his voice startled Tazuna and Inari, surprised Tsunami.

Naruto frowned and asked “How?” Sasuke replied with surprising intensity “Dobe, she’s the heart of her home, her love is an unending fount for those who are her own.” Sakura nodded, though she remembered Amaya a tad differently- not surprising given the unforgiving weapons and household management lessons- Sasuke was right. Amaya had ruled her home like a fairy tale queen would her territory, had loved them all despite their different origins.

Tazuna mused over that answer, remembering how the aged Hokage had warned him about the gray haired man who was his grandson-in-law. It prompted him to wonder about a woman like his Tsunami, who had prompted this jonin to love her fiercely, these genin too, were loyal to her, this woman he’d never met. “Is she-” Kakashi cut in “She’s a swordmaster, an Elite Jonin of Konohagakure no Sato, one of the harshest teachers of our people, her students get strong quickly.” The pride in the younger mans’ voice stunned Tazuna, but it was the affection in stoic Sasukes’ voice when he said “My cousin, the Head of our Clan until I reach my majority, rules us fairly, I and her nephew. Not just fairly, but with more instruction than either of us has had before.” Tazuna didn’t have time to wallow in his awe, because Sakura chimed in “Amaya-sensei has been one of the best teachers I ever had.” Naruto nodded, but muttered “She’s really strict.”

ASPIRANT

It was Sakuras’ turn to scout the Land of Waves, and she was disgusted by what she saw. Sniffing around, half in curiosity, half with the desire to take action, a steaming genin traced it to Gato, as Tazuna had stated. Fuming, Sakura stormed back to Tazunas’ house and snarled “You lot take care of the damn nuke nin that piece of-” Cutting herself off neatly, the still furious young girl growled “I don’t care if he’s the king of this place, there are children starving! I’m killing him once I figure out how!”

Kakashi raised a brow and wondered ‘What did you DO to that girl, Amaya-chan? She’s like . . . you.’ Sasuke appraised her carefully, but it was Naruto who cut in “No. I’ll do it, you and Sasuke need a few team missions under your belts before the Hokage will even think of putting it in his calculations.” Sakura was shocked out of her temper, and she too, wondered just what had changed her teammate. Nodding, she replied resolutely “As long as Taicho Okays it.” Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi were not quite impressed at her return to control- she should never have lost it, after all- but they did approve of her remembering the hierarchy.

Said Taicho shrugged, and away they went, Naruto to kill Gato, and the others to guard Tazuna. On the second day after Gato’s execution, they were surprised to be attacked by Zabuza again, and as the boys began battling Haku as Kakashi squared off against Zabuza, Sakura remembered.

Eyes solemn, Amaya led Sakura, Hinata, Tenten, Ino and Kurenai to a quiet corner of the Hatake grounds, seating herself easily on a fallen log. Dark eyes, no gold in them today, studied the kunoichi even as Inosha Senju appeared in a yellow light, after her grandniece place a marker for the older woman. Inosha took them in, and sighed. “Amaya asked me to teach this lesson. My father-in-law, Tobirama Senju, was the Hokage to instate a law that when possible, a kunoichi is to balance every team.” Amaya, after receiving a poke from her aunt, grumbled before intoning “The Uchiha had kunoichi generations before most other clans, because we fight harder, longer, and sneakier. But more than that, we can and do offer mercy long before our male counterparts.” Even when they got to ask questions, Sakura hadn’t quite understood. Amaya, no matter how she loved them, was a violently powerful woman, but . . . we can and do offer mercy.

Now she understood. At least she hoped she did. Determination a siren song in her veins, Sakura charged Haku, pinning him to the ground before she cold clocked the older male. Mercy and stupidity, after all, were two very different things, Sakura reminded herself. Dragging Haku, she dropped him close enough to and loud enough for Zabuza to hear, before drawing her kodachi. Baring her teeth, Sakura snarled “Zabuza! Gato is dead, and I hold my sword to the neck of your apprentice! Surrender now, or he dies!” Zabuza froze for a moment, long enough for Sasuke and Naruto to double team him, dragging him to the ground as well. Sheathing her kodachi, Sakura stepped forward and looked Zabuza in the eye. “I am not our Taicho, but I am the kunoichi of a Konoha squad. Do not think I won’t kill you if I think you’ll attack what’s mine. Now, are you coming to Konoha or trying to raise an uprising in Mist?” Zabuza gulped, looking at the feral eyed girl, whose hand was twitching on her waist, as if she wished to summon her sword.

Zabuza bucked his body, only for Sasuke to elbow the back of his head as Naruto slapped seals on his wrists and Kakashi drifted to stand behind Sakura. The Mist nuke nin roared “Who in Kami-samas’ name trained you?” Sakura stood straight, and said levelly “Amaterasu Uchiha Hatake, Elite Jonin of Konoha, and Honorable Granddaughter of our Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.”

Sakura continued in the same level voice “Either way, choose. But if you prove a danger to Konoha or her people, I’ll kill you myself.” Zabuza snorted “Who’d take a nukenin into-” “Konoha would, you jerk. We might be snobbish about bloodlines, but not everyone’s a bastard. Choose, before I let the guys.”

Zabuza squirmed and finally asked “Why?” Green eyes alight, she replied “It’s a kunoichi’s right and responsibility to offer mercy where we can, though we tend to be brutal about it.” They waited what felt like forever, when Zabuza’s thoughts were cut into by Tazuna “They could stay here and run security so someone like Gato can’t come into power again.”

The bridge builders’ comment had the sword nin freezing. Haku had awakened by then, and it was he who asked hopefully “Zabuza-sama?” Zabuza finally nodded and grunted “Fine, but we’ll need somewhere to sleep.”

Leaving the details to the other ninja and bridge builder, Naruto asked Sakura “What was that?” Blowing out her breath, the pink haired girl answered “Amaya-sensei told us that’s why the Nidaime instated a law that every team possible has a kunoichi. To offer mercy, because we will offer it before men will- in most cases, anyway- and because we will longer, harder and sneakier. She didn’t say it, but we balance our teams, more often than not.”

Accepting that explanation, Team Seven headed back to Konoha, the boys to train, Kakashi to see Amaya, and Sakura hoping to either get some more gruelling training tailored to kunoichi- this mission had thrown her weaknesses into a harsh light- or for recommendations of people who could give it to her. She had to get better! Amaya had started training with the sword earlier, far earlier, but Sakura was determined to be the best she could be, maybe even surpassing her sensei.

ASPIRANT

 Like the others, Amaya was on a journey. She was headed for Suna, and delighted about it. She was eager to see her babies again, to distance herself from a suddenly expectant Konoha. “Just ‘cause I’m Kakashis’ wife, doesn’t mean I’m useless or amazing, just that I had over a decade mostly alone to work on my weapon skills, morons.” She grumbled, moving quickly to get to the compound on the outskirts of Suna.

Hatake no Haruka, a silver haired Kunoichi of indeterminate age, greeted the Hatake matriarch with a half-smile that was edged in sadness. “Amaya, you’re here. Katsuro and Akashina will be delighted to see you. But where is my cousin?” Amaya glided forward and gave the only other member of their immediate family Team Seven had not met yet a hug. “I tested for a rank, Ruka-chan, I got Elite Jonin.” Harukas’ smile widened minutely and called into the small compound “Gakis! Your kaa-chan is here!” With that declaration, two children ran, pell mell, for the dark haired nin. Amaya threw out her arms, knocked back a little by the force of the combined hugs.

“Kaa-chan! Kaa-chan! I love you!” Seven year old Katsuro chanted, happy to have her there. Akashina hugged her mother hard, mumbling “Love you, kaa-chan.” Hugging her children close, Amaya savoured the moment.

That night though, when her son agreed to come home, but her daughter decided to wait until the Chunin Exams, Amayas’ herat only hurt a little. Inosha had been right, Akashina would swear her fealty to Suna.

ASPIRANT

Katsuro exuberantly raced through the Gates of Konoha, eagerly searching for the eldest of his sisters’ chakra. His mother smiled softly as she kept pace, breaking into a grin as her eldest girl stepped out of the small house the younger woman shared with her own husband. Silver and brown eyes sparkled as long silver hair fell over her shoulder. “Katsuro.” The impassive sentence belied the love in her voice, even as the boy shrieked “Nee-sama!” Charging her for a hug, Katsuro was pleasantly surprised when his nee-sama not only picked him up, but his Aniki, Tenzou, closed him and Aisha into a hug too.

Amaya stiffened when she felt a flash of chakra. Kakashi. He leapt down from the roof of the house opposite, tucking her under his arm to observe their little ones. Tenzou looked up at them, gesturing to them with his hand, welcoming them to the family huddle. Gliding forward, the elder family members embraced their cubs, content to simply be.