* Present Day *
Kakashi Hatake POV
– Nee-chan passed the Chunin Exams! She was amazing, dattebayo! – Naruto celebrated, jumping to his feet as he kept praising his sister's achievements.
That must be the tenth time he's done that today..., I thought, smiling slightly. Well, I can't blame him. I also feel happy remembering that and how things were simpler for us back then. I let out a soft laugh at that. "Back then"... Thinking like that really makes me sound like an old man.
– Hey, Kakashi-sensei! – I looked at the blonde again when he called me – You guys got promoted to chunin after that exam, right? – I nodded.
– A few days after the test, we were called here, to the Hokage's building, to be promoted directly by the Sandaime. And things became more troublesome.
– What do you mean? – The boy asked.
– As chunin, we were put in charge of teams on missions, which I personally didn't like – I pointed out, and the Uzumaki seemed amused by that.
– You never could work well in a team, could you, Kakashi-sensei? – I agreed.
– Except with Amaya and Shisui, when the redhead was coordinating us, I couldn't work well with others. Whenever I could, I opted for solo missions, where I could work my own way – I looked at Naruto – Amaya wasn't much different, but she could adapt more easily to the teams she was assigned to for missions.
– And were you sent on any missions related to the war that was happening?
– In your sister and the weasel guy's case, yes. Unlike the genin who had just become chunin, they already had enough field experience to be sent with the veterans to some combat zones of the war – I explained – In my case, the first war-related mission I did was right after I was promoted to jounin – I looked at him – But that's an explanation for later. Some things that happened two years before that are more important for now.
– Really? – The boy asked excitedly – What are they?
– I'll explain some of them quickly, because if I drag it out too much I won't finish telling you everything. Finish sorting those last scrolls, okay? – Naruto immediately nodded and went back to what he was doing – Well, in the meantime until where I'll continue telling you, Amaya and I only had one more competition, since our free time, and in the same period, was almost non-existent – I gave a weak smile – And I ended up taking the lead in our tests. It was right after that that your sister and Shisui met Itachi, a little over a year after we became chunin – The Uzumaki stopped what he was doing for a moment.
– The same Itachi that... – I nodded before he even finished and the boy smiled – And nee-chan was a close friend of his?
– Yes, more than anyone would expect... – I commented, thinking about everything involving the Uchiha in question and the redhead – As payment for losing at rock-paper-scissors, and to get Shisui off my back, I said Amaya should find someone to put up with that weasel guy.
– Don't tell me it was him? – I gave a weak laugh and agreed.
– As I said, Amaya could understand and attract people easily because of her way – I said with a faint smile – Because of your sister's intervention, Itachi became Shisui's best friend, which brought him even closer to the redhead.
– Nee-chan made friends easily, didn't she?
– Yes, but she didn't like it much – I explained, and the boy looked at me without understanding – Amaya, although she had changed a lot since the day she arrived in the village, was still wary of getting close to others and preferred to stay close only to those she already had more affinity with – I gave a weak laugh – Even though she always ended up attracting others, even when she didn't intend to – Naruto laughed.
– Ah, I remembered something I wanted to ask, Kakashi-sensei... – He commented after a few moments and I looked at him – Why did you and Shisui give nee-chan the nickname "Venus"?
– Initially we chose that nickname because it referred to something we both had in common with Amaya – I elucidated calmly – Remember what I told you about the day Amaya and Shisui met again and he took her to watch the stars and the moon for the first time? – Naruto nodded – And remember when was the first time she and I talked? – He was about to speak, but I interrupted him – Without me calling her strange – The boy laughed and thought for a moment.
– It was when you found out she had nightmares and stayed up all night – The blonde said and I agreed – And then you stayed on the porch looking... – He stopped his own speech and smiled – Watching the night sky was what you had in common that involved nee-chan – I gave a weak smile and nodded.
– Since Venus is one of the planets we can see with the naked eye, the nickname ended up being perfect due to the situation – I smiled more openly – Because of the brightness Venus has during the night – I looked at him – So intense and vivid, it seems to attract everyone's attention, even if it's not its intention.
– Just like nee-chan – The boy said with a happy smile on his expression – And what else happened after you became chunin?
– Well... – I put my hands together and rested my chin on them – Shisui was promoted to jounin when Amaya was nine and was directed by the Sandaime to join the Anbu – Naruto's expression became surprised – And I think that brings us to the point where I need to tell things more slowly.
– Why? What happened, 'tebayo? – Uzumaki quickly inquired, evidently worried.
I can't even say there's no reason to worry, since remembering this situation even today makes me uncomfortable, I thought.
– After returning from a mission, Amaya received a request from the Hokage to join a newly formed team.
– A team? What kind of team?
– Initially this team was already organized and ready, but it ended up being restructured at the last minute and at the request of a jounin, I was assigned to it.
– Really? And which jounin asked for that? – The blonde asked – Your sensei, Shikamaru's father, or Shisui?
– It wasn't either of them – I said calmly and smiled weakly – The request came from someone I never imagined...
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Amaya Uzumaki POV
My breathing was ragged and my heart felt like it would leave my chest at any moment, given its strong beats. Sweat dripped down my body, as did blood.
I felt a hand touch my shoulder and turned my head slightly in its direction, just enough for my eyes to reach him.
The weary expression was clearer on his features, though he didn't show it. The injuries on his body, as well as dirt, were ingrained in him. A few stray strands had escaped his usual ponytail.
– Good work... – Although he seemed tired, his voice was still firm and lazy – The mission ends here, let's regroup with the rest.
I just nodded and Shikaku passed by me. "Good work...", I mused over his words for a moment before starting to follow in the same direction as my sensei. Being praised for this... I'll never be able to feel completely okay, even knowing it's to protect those important to me...
I let out a heavy sigh and finally was able to loosen my grip on the hilt of my wakizashi. I sheathed it and for a moment looked at my own situation.
The cuts on my body didn't truly bother me, at least not as much as what was laid out around me: A scene of destruction, bodies of allies and enemies piled on top of each other and the smell of death ingrained in my being.
It was always like this on missions where I accompanied small groups to deal with smaller enemy organizations near the borders of the Land of Fire. It never changed, there was always destruction and death everywhere.
Why do we keep fighting?, I reflected silently. What are we really fighting for? Power? Territorial control? To protect our loved ones? Or just for ourselves?
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Our squad had returned to the village and, now in the Hokage's office, few members of our team had been called by Shikaku to accompany him at that moment and I was one of them.
I was standing further back behind my sensei, next to four other ninjas who were with us on the team. All silent, watching the speech of the new leader of the group I was assigned to, Shikaku, as he reported to the Sandaime the entire situation that had occurred.
Why a new leader?
Well, initially for the mission I was supposed to be left as its leader, but days ago, when we were about to leave the village, that was suddenly changed and the position was given to my sensei, despite his protests against the strange change.
It had been six years since I became a chunin, but I was never left as leader on missions, even the simplest ones involving war conflicts. I had wondered many times why and always found the same answers:
Fear...
Although I was much more accepted by the villagers, there were still those who feared me. Not exactly me that they were afraid of, but what I could or might do.
Lack of credibility...
I was still seen as a child, not capable of having the same precision and skill as an adult to guide others in a real conflict.
I was aware that I was, at least physically, still a child, but I also knew myself well enough to know that I was much more prepared than some of the village ninjas older than me.
And especially distrust.
Above all, I was still not seen by many ninjas as a kunoichi and citizen of Konoha. I was just an outsider, an experiment that was brought to be observed and kept close, as a precaution...
How did I know all this?
From people's eyes, their subtlest expressions, and their body's reactions in my presence.
I had always had an easy time reading people's true behavior, and with the years I spent in the village, that became even more precise. That's why I could notice how each of the members who were on a team with me felt about me.
At this very moment, for example:
The two men on my left, both had heavier breathing than normal, with their jaws tightly clenched. Anger..., I noted, looking at them out of the corner of my eye.
My eyes moved towards the other two present on my right. One had his hands behind his back, squeezing them incessantly. His eyes scanned everything in the environment, except in my direction. Fear..., I deduced.
And the last one had a firmer posture and his gaze fixed only on Shikaku and the Sandaime. Nothing and no one around him seemed relevant at that moment. Completely indifferent to others..., I determined.
– That was all I had to report – Shikaku concluded and with that I turned my attention to the two men in front of us.
– I see... – The Sandaime said calmly – Then you are dismissed – We nodded.
The shinobi next to me were the first to turn to leave the room. I did the same immediately, sighing softly.
– Amaya... – I hadn't even taken two steps when the Hokage called me, making me stop and look at him – Could I have a few more minutes of your time? – I promptly nodded.
I turned my body in his direction, approaching his desk again and stopping near my sensei. I felt the gazes of the others in the room fall on me at that moment, clearly uncomfortable.
Shikaku nodded to Hiruzen and turned to leave the room, but not before momentarily resting his hand on my shoulder – his eyes telling me not to worry about the other ninjas present.
Then he left the room, along with the other four shinobi, closing the door behind him.
– Is something wrong, Sandaime? – I asked calmly when I looked at him.
– No, not at all – Hiruzen replied more gently than he had spoken before in the presence of the other ninjas – I would like to, first of all, praise you for the performance you have been showing on your missions.
The war missions..., I thought for a moment. Of course it's about them, after all, the Hokage wouldn't have reasons to praise a particular ninja for simple missions, like those carried out within the village or even in neighboring towns.
– I just fulfilled my role as a kunoichi of Konoha – I commented systematically and lowered my eyes for a moment.
– And you are fulfilling it in an exemplary manner for your age – He emphasized – And how are you feeling, Amaya?
– A little tired, due to the last mission – I replied simply.
– Is there anything else bothering you? – The Sandaime insisted on his questioning and I turned my gaze to him.
– Just... – I stopped for a moment before answering – Wondering when things will calm down, when this war will end.
– We are two then who wonder about that – Hiruzen rested his elbows on the table, interlacing his hands – But it doesn't seem to me that's the only thing making you a bit distant.
– Yes... – I admitted and looked at him – Thinking too much sometimes makes us reflect on many things that wouldn't need so much questioning – The Sandaime laughed at this last comment of mine.
– You're starting to talk like your sensei, due to his laziness to think about other things – I gave a weak laugh at that.
Shikaku-sensei was an extremely intelligent man, but extremely lazy to think or even do anything that wasn't really necessary. After that, silence in the room lasted for a few moments before I spoke again.
– Sandaime, with all due respect, but I doubt you asked me to stay here just to know about my well-being – The Hokage's eyes fell on me.
– You really are talking like your sensei... – He commented and his expression, which until then had been gentle, took on a more serious air – I wanted to talk to you about a group I organized.
– A group? – I asked, confused about the subject and the objective for which I would be involved – About what exactly?
– It's a search team – The Sandaime elucidated – And I need to know if you would agree to join this team – I looked at him without understanding.
– I'm sorry, Sandaime, but I don't understand – I said quickly – If it's a group for some mission, there would be no need to question my interest or refusal to participate in it – I pointed out this detail – As a kunoichi of the village, an order from you has total control over my choices to join, or not, in something.
– I understand your position and doubts about such actions I'm taking now – He explained as calmly as he could – But for this specific situation, I need to know if you will agree – I slightly arched one of my eyebrows.
– Why? What situation could require the positioning of Konoha's highest authority in this way? – I questioned him and he sighed heavily.
– Amaya... – Hiruzen paused for a moment before announcing the statement that made me tremble completely – You need to go back to the laboratory where you were created.