Amaya Uzumaki POV
Kakashi and I kept talking for a while. Since he wasn't wearing his mask, he made sure to eat the saury, and he finished it in minutes, by the way. If my brother was addicted to sweets, Hatake was hooked on grilled saury.
We talked about some things involving Sakumo. Kakashi wanted to know how I hadn't gotten angry at his father for what he did, how I had handled the pain of losing him and still managed to find a way to understand him.
As always, I honestly said what I thought:
I was still hurting from losing Sakumo. He was and always would be one of the most important people I had ever met and deeply cherished. After all, I was alive at that moment thanks to him and Minato for saving me from the lab.
Beyond that, they were the ones who gave me a name, who treated me like a person and not just an object like I had been treated until then. It was Sakumo who opened his home to me and took me in without asking for anything in return.
He saved me, took me in, cared for me, and taught me how to live.
And even though I thought his choice was extreme, in a way I understood one of his goals behind it: He wanted to spare his son from the hatred of others.
I told Kakashi about the words and the looks the villagers gave Sakumo, and I tried to explain to him how it felt, how distressing it was – I mean, how could I not understand it when I had been through, and was still going through, similar things?
I also said that Hatake didn't need to forgive his father right away, but that he should at least try to understand him. And that he should choose his own ideals based on that, like whether to prioritize a mission or his comrades, like Sakumo once did.
After everything, Kakashi decided to latch onto the promise I had made to his father. He insisted several times that it was a silly request and that I didn't need to follow it.
But I had already decided to follow it, whether Kakashi wanted me to or not. Seeing him so vulnerable made me understand why Sakumo asked me to be patient with him and help him find happiness in his moments of despair.
Unlike Shisui, who was open about expressing himself, the platinum-haired guy was very introspective, just like me. So I knew he wouldn't be able to show how he was feeling, just like I knew he didn't like showing it.
We were very similar in that sense.
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It was almost dark when we decided to head home.
Hatake insisted on walking me to my place, where we were greeted by Minato. That was one of those rare moments when Namikaze was home so early. The blonde seemed slightly happy to see me and Kakashi there when we arrived.
I knew how anxious Minato had been about the Hatake next to me after Sakumo's death – I'd had the same worry.
I had barely taken off my shoes when Kushina called me. I left Kakashi and Minato at the entrance and headed to the kitchen. The redhead was making dinner and said she needed help.
I just told her I would take a shower first and she agreed. When I left the kitchen to go to my room, I noticed that neither Kakashi nor Minato were at the entrance – I immediately imagined that Namikaze had decided to walk the platinum-haired guy part of the way home or even all the way to his house. Baka, he could have at least told me he was leaving..., I scolded him silently and gave a weak laugh.
After my shower, I went to the kitchen to help Kushina. I was already used to cooking with her, so we got everything done quickly.
Just as we were finishing up the last things, we heard the sound of the front door opening briefly and then closing.
– Kushina, can you help me here for a minute? – We heard Minato calling for the redhead.
– Sure! – The older woman replied and looked at me for a moment – Keep the heat low and...
– Don't stop stirring or it'll burn – I quickly finished what she was going to say – Don't worry, I'll take care of it – She gave a weak smile and left to help Minato.
I had some culinary skills that were more developed than others, and whenever I could, I was learning new recipes from Kushina. Besides being a great cook, the Uzumaki was always willing to teach me when we were together.
I wanted to learn and develop my cooking skills well so I could one day prepare a meal all by myself for the Uzumaki-Namikaze couple. I wanted to thank them little by little for everything, and starting with that seemed like a good option.
I tasted a bit of the sauce, confirming it was just right. I turned off the heat and left the pot covered so it wouldn't cool down too fast.
Kushina hadn't returned to the kitchen since Minato called her a few minutes ago. So I took the opportunity to continue preparing what the redhead had started. I finished cutting the salad and arranging it on the ceramic platter on one of the counters.
My mind was distracted, so it took me a while to notice the faint smile on my lips. Things were finally getting back on track, that was the reason I was like this.
Shisui and I had finally been cleared to go back on missions, I was getting more and more comfortable with Kushina and Minato, and now I had sorted things out with Kakashi, while also being able to keep the promise I made to Sakumo.
And I was happy about it.
I stopped what I was doing when the silence that filled the house felt strange. That wasn't normal, especially when Kushina was around. And as if she knew I was thinking that, the redhead appeared in the kitchen with a happy expression.
– Sorry for the delay! – The Uzumaki quickly looked around – Ah, you've already taken care of everything... – She smiled excitedly – Let's take this to the table then, 'tebane! – I agreed.
Kushina went to the living room first, and a few moments later I did the same. That natural excitement of the redhead was so fun, she was always cheerful and it infected everyone around her. It was something that always made me smile, like right then.
With a faint smile on my face, as soon as I passed the divider between the kitchen and the living room, I got a surprise: I heard two pops from my left and right, and was hit by a shower of little papers and ribbons. At the same moment, a slight flash in front of me made me blink a few times.
The instant my vision cleared, I noticed the situation I was in:
Minato and Kushina were on either side of me, smiling happily, each holding two of those cylinder things. In the direction the sudden flash came from was Kakashi with an animated expression and a small rectangular object in his hands, which I recognized as Namikaze's camera.
I probably had the most confused expression in the world right then, because Kakashi started laughing.
– What is this...? – I asked, letting all my confusion show.
– It's to celebrate your birthday – Hatake explained and I stared at him, not getting it.
– But today is your birthday – I reminded him.
– Let me explain better – Minato spoke up and I turned my attention to him.
Kakashi Hatake POV
The mix of confusion and surprise on Amaya's face was one of a kind. Because of that, Minato promptly started explaining to her why we were doing this.
FlashBack On
Right after we arrived at Amaya's house, and Kushina called her, Minato and I were left alone at the entrance. We talked briefly and Namikaze offered to walk me part of the way to my house.
During that time, the blonde congratulated me on my birthday. A few moments later, still with everything that happened earlier on my mind, I asked him when Amaya's birthday was.
Minato thought for a while before telling me he had no idea when the girl's birthday might be. And before I could ask anything, he quickly explained why: No one, not even Amaya herself, knew when she had been created in the lab.
The team in charge of investigating the lab where Amaya was found had their mission interrupted. Thanks to the traps set up by the lab, they were in danger themselves and risked destroying the evidence from that place.
Because of that, they didn't have any information regarding the creators of that place and their experiments, except for what the Analysis Team managed to get from the Uzumaki's memories.
That left me speechless for a few minutes and made me think: Even though I'd known Amaya for almost a year, it seemed like I knew nothing about her, at least not like she knew about me.
And because of that, I suggested to Minato that we pick a day to celebrate Amaya's birthday.
To my surprise, he was only silent for a few moments before asking if I would help him organize things to do it that very night. And I didn't even need to think about it to agree to help him.
In a way, what the Uzumaki did earlier had influenced me. I wanted to thank her, and also try to make up for my stupid behavior with her months ago.
FlashBack Off
When Minato finished his explanation, Amaya was visibly surprised. I admit it was a funny sight.
But soon the girl's expression changed to one of joy, and she went to hug Minato and Kushina. The older Uzumaki was amused by it and the blonde had a big smile on his face, just like Amaya.
It was such a genuine feeling of happiness that I felt happy too. The same kind of feeling the redhead always transmitted with her presence. I couldn't help but smile at that.
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After the relaxed conversations during dinner, Kushina suggested I spend the night at their place. I didn't even think about refusing – I didn't want to go home right then, not after having such a pleasant day, something I hadn't had in a long time.
Minato told Amaya that he and Kushina would handle things in the living room and kitchen, and that she should get me settled in the house. The girl nodded and promptly followed her.
We walked down a long hallway and Amaya opened the first door on the right, revealing what seemed to be her room. The walls were a light blue, with hanging shelves and some books on them. Her furniture was a light brown, giving the room a balanced feel.
– Let me see if I have something that'll fit you... – the redhead said and I turned my eyes towards her.
She was rummaging through her clothes in the wardrobe on the left side of her room. Watching that scene, I couldn't help but laugh. Amaya stopped for a moment, staring at me.
– What's so funny? – She asked, confused.
– This reminds me of the day after you started living with me and my dad – I commented and the Uzumaki gave a weak laugh.
– Yeah, except I didn't call you a stranger – She reminded me of my comment and I shrugged.
– Not my fault if you looked and still look strange – And I had barely finished speaking when the girl threw a long-sleeved shirt in my face – Hey! – I complained and Amaya laughed.
– Not my fault if you don't have good reflexes to dodge – She smiled in an amused way and turned her attention back to the wardrobe.
– Like I said, way too strange – I said and gave a weak laugh.
After Amaya handed me one of the pants she wore around the house, she showed me where the bathroom was and said I could use it. I took a quick shower and soon returned to the redhead's room, seeing she had already set up where I would sleep.
There was a wider-than-usual sofa under the window of her room. She just pointed out that if I didn't want to be woken up by the sun early, I should keep the curtains closed – the redhead knew I hated waking up with the sun in my face. I laughed internally noticing once again how well she knew me.
I lay down on the sofa and Amaya on her bed. Since neither of us was really sleepy at that moment, we decided to talk a bit. Among many things, we got to one subject in particular: The Chunnin Exams.
– The exams are in three months – I mentioned.
– Are you going to try to take them already? – The Uzumaki asked.
– I don't know if I can because to enter, students need to be recommended by their sensei and have a team of three members – I explained – In my case, I have neither. And you? – I looked at her – You and your team could take the exam – Amaya stayed silent and didn't say a word for a few moments.
– We... can't – She said in a more serious tone of voice and I looked at her, confused – We don't have a full team.
– Did someone leave the team? – I asked – Or...
– Takafumi is no longer on the team – She said quickly, her expression visibly troubled.
– Why? What happened?
– You remember when I told you that my team and I were going on an escort mission? – I nodded – Well, that's when everything went wrong and... – She paused for a moment before continuing – That's why Takafumi died.
Amaya told me what had happened on her mission, every moment and detail of how it had been. I could feel all her sadness and pain as she narrated it.
And only then did I truly understand how badly the redhead had been doing – and I felt even more like an idiot for how I had acted with her after my father's death.
I had no idea how to try to comfort her or even find something to try to ease what she was feeling. It was sad... Really sad.
We stayed silent for so long that it was only after many minutes that I noticed Amaya had fallen asleep – probably tiredness had gotten to her. I, on the other hand, couldn't sleep.
Everything made more sense then: The Uzumaki's more careful behavior towards me after her promise to my father, for looking after me even without me knowing, her time away from village missions, and her comment about accepting anything that didn't involve a fight or her own effort as payment for my victory [48]...
It also showed how much Amaya trusted me, to the point of telling me something so personal, her unpleasant experience, and expressing what she had felt before and in the moment. She wasn't usually like that; she rarely showed her emotions, especially the painful ones.
Having her trust was something I had long understood to be difficult. She herself had told me she couldn't let her guard down around people because of what she went through in the lab. But there she was, exposing herself to me.
It was proof that she trusted me.
And because of that, another question came to my mind that night: Did I trust her in the same way she trusted me?
I had wondered during the past two months why I was seeking Amaya's forgiveness or even trying to regain her empathy for me. The answer had seemed complex before, but now it was simple:
She was special.
The Uzumaki was special because of her unique and captivating way. I can't explain it... The first time I saw her, I never imagined she would become someone as important to me as she is now.
I can't say if it was the effort she made to try to get close to me, knowing how to respect my antisocial ways, or for putting up with my mood even on the worst days, that made me lower my defenses, but...
I liked Amaya, I valued her company and herself as a kunoichi. She had won me over, and my trust.
And I wanted to be able to repay her for what she did. I wanted to learn from her, to try to understand how someone who went through so many bad things could be so strong and yet so gentle.
I wanted to know her, beyond what she allowed those around her to see. I wanted to know the real Amaya, in her entirety. I couldn't help but smile weakly at that thought, already having an idea of where to start.