Amaya POV
Just like Sakumo said, I took my bath and headed to Kakashi's room, where the clothes I was supposed to wear should be. The room's light was off, but a candle was lit, casting a weak glow.
I saw a pair of long pants and a long-sleeved shirt on Kakashi's bed. I let the towel wrapped around my body fall and placed it over my wet hair. I picked up the pants and put them on. They fit well..., I thought idly.
I looked around Kakashi's room more carefully before putting on the shirt. His things were very organized, more so than the things in the hospital room I'd been in.
He seems very meticulous, I thought, and also very selective. His behavior earlier showed he had zero interest in trying to establish any kind of relationship, bond, or even closeness with me.
Even though he doesn't look at me like the village people do, he seems to want to avoid me. I looked towards his bedroom window, seeing the vegetation of the woods near the Hatake residence. Maybe it's better to just accept his stance.
I pulled the towel from my hair and tossed it onto the back of a chair nearby. I grabbed the long-sleeved shirt Sakumo had left for me and quickly put it on.
I had barely put it on when I noticed someone's presence outside the room, just standing there. I went to the door and opened it quickly. That's when I saw Kakashi there.
– What are you doing standing at the door? – I asked him.
– What are you doing here? – He asked, sounding a bit nervous – And why are you wearing my clothes?!
– I'm going to be staying here for a few days – I explained calmly – And Sakumo-sama told me to wear them.
– What?! No, anything but that...!
That's when I looked at Kakashi. Even though the light was weak from the candle in the room, I could see he only had a towel wrapped around his waist and was using a small towel to cover part of his face.
– Is the problem the fact that I'm wearing your clothes? – I asked calmly.
– That's one of the problems! – He replied quickly.
– Ah... In that case, I'll give them back.
I grabbed the hem of the shirt I was wearing and started to lift it to take it off.
– AHH! – Kakashi yelled, visibly startled, and grabbed one of my hands, stopping me from taking the piece of clothing off.
I stared at him, seeing him breathing unevenly. His expression was a mix of fright and surprise. I stared back, not understanding.
– What are you doing?! – He asked nervously.
– Since you were bothered by me wearing your clothes – I said – I was going to take them off to give them back to you.
I looked at him for a moment. Even though part of his face was covered by the small towel, I could see he was slightly flushed. Could the problem be that I was going to take my clothes off in front of him?, I pondered silently.
I heard hurried footsteps coming towards us and, just like me, Kakashi looked in the direction of the hallway leading to the living room. We saw Sakumo there. He stared at us, worried for a moment, and also visibly confused about what was happening.
Only then did Kakashi let go of my hand, which was still holding the hem of the shirt I was wearing. He walked past me, into his room, and closed the door. I looked at Sakumo and he let out a heavy sigh.
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I was in the kitchen with Sakumo. I had explained to him what happened earlier, when he saw me and Kakashi in the hallway. The Hatake explained to me that he hadn't told his son I would be staying with them for a while and Kakashi had been surprised by my presence.
And he also explained that Kakashi's reaction when I went to give the clothes back was expected, since, apparently, it wasn't common for men and women to change clothes in front of each other, like I almost did.
– Your son also seemed bothered by the fact that I would be staying here – I pointed out, and Sakumo gave a weak laugh.
– He's always bothered by other people's presence – He expressed tranquilly – Whether at home or outside – Sakumo looked at me – You don't need to worry, it's not something specifically because of you.
Even so, maybe it's better if I avoid him until he accepts this situation better, I thought, after all, neither of us knows how long I'll be here.
POV Kakashi Hatake
This Amaya has definitely surpassed any limit of being strange!, I thought. How can someone not know you shouldn't take your clothes off in front of someone you don't even know?!
That's when I stopped my thoughts for a moment, remembering the scars on her back. She probably wasn't taught about that, I reflected, she was raised as an experiment, "normal" things definitely wouldn't be knowledge she has. I sighed heavily.
Another thing that's bothering me is that mark on her back, I remembered. It's like a birthmark, but it's too symmetrical to be one...
– Dinner is ready! – I heard my father announce, pulling me from my thoughts.
– I'm coming! – I replied right away.
I put on my pajamas and threw the towels over the back of the chair. I adjusted my mask and left the room.
When I reached the kitchen door, I saw Amaya sitting at the table, just like my father, who had just sat down. I went to my place at the table and sat down.
– Thanks for the food – My father and I said in unison.
I glanced discreetly towards Amaya, who was across from me, and saw her bring her hands together, like my father and I had done before.
– Thank you for the food – She said it too, but quieter.
My father smiled weakly. At least she understood table manners, I thought. I held the edge of my mask and when I went to lower it to eat, I paused for a moment. I saw my father was staring at me.
I'm not taking my mask off with her here, I determined with my gaze directed at my father. He changed his expression instantly, as if he understood what I was thinking. Before he could do anything, Amaya was the one who spoke.
– Can I eat in the living room, Sakumo-sama? – She asked my father.
He was about to say something, but stopped the next moment. He just laughed weakly and nodded.
– If you're asking, it's fine.
She picked up her already filled bowl, as well as her chopsticks. I watched her with my eyes until she went into the living room, out of my sight.
– She can read the atmosphere faster and more precisely than I imagined... – My father commented.
Did that weirdo understand that I wouldn't take my mask off while she was here?, I thought. But she doesn't even know me, how...
– Did she ask you why you wear the mask? – My father questioned me and I looked at him.
– Yes, but... – I stopped talking.
– I know you're wary of her, Kakashi – He said after a few seconds – But you need to try to help her – I stared at him.
– What? Why?
– You must have realized she doesn't understand certain things like other people do. It's not her fault, after all, no one would choose to be born to be used as some kind of experimental weapon – He looked towards the living room – I see great potential in her, just like you – My father turned his eyes to me – She just needs to be guided correctly.
– You want me to teach her how to be a person... A normal person? – I asked, wary of the answer and what it would imply.
– I wouldn't say teach her, but rather guide her so she can understand in her own way – My father smiled weakly – As you noticed, she can comprehend situations quickly. So just try not to treat her with so much indifference, okay? – I sighed and gave a weak nod.
Helping her act like a normal person and treating her with less indifference..., I thought. I think it would be easier to solve the battle scroll exercises.
– And two more things... – My father continued and I looked at him – The first is that early tomorrow morning the Sandaime and Minato will come here again, to oversee Amaya-chan's test.
– Test?
– Of her skill levels and whether we can enroll her in the Academy.
In the Academy?, I thought. Is that why she asked if the scrolls I was studying were from the Academy?
– And the second thing? – I asked him.
– I thought about letting her sleep in your room – He looked at me – Maybe she'll be more comfortable, after all, you two must be around the same age.
– I just hope she doesn't snore like you, otousan – My father scratched his head slightly at the jab and laughed weakly, just like I did.
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After we cleaned up everything from dinner, my father set up an improvised bed for Amaya. Since it was already late, he suggested we go to sleep, after all, the Sandaime and Minato would come early in the morning.
It took me a long time to fall asleep, while Amaya seemed to have fallen asleep very easily. I ended up sleeping heavily afterwards and didn't wake up once for the rest of the night. When I woke up the next morning, the sun was just rising over the horizon.
My eyes went straight to Amaya's improvised bed, but there was no sign of her there. I sat up quickly in my bed, seeing the blankets she had used folded and arranged neatly, near where the redhead had slept. Don't tell me she..., I started to question myself.
I got up quickly and left my room, going to the living room. When I reached the room divider, I stopped immediately.
The red-haired girl was in the living room, sitting on the floor, wrapped in a blanket. In front of her were my scrolls, along with some sheets with notes.
How long has she been awake?, I wondered. And why does she have my scrolls? That's when she stopped what she was writing and looked in my direction.
– Sorry... – She said quietly – Sakumo-sama said yesterday I could read them.
I stared at her for a few moments, not quite sure what to say. It's the first time I've seen her show any expression, I thought, other than that neutral one. She kept her gaze down, as if she was worried about what I would do.
– You need something to wear – I said and she looked at me – The Sandaime-sama and Minato-san will be here soon.
She looked a little surprised by what I said. Maybe because I didn't act like yesterday, I pondered. She gave a weak nod and got to her feet.
We went back to my room and I opened my closet, quickly choosing something she could wear. She folded the blanket she had in the living room and left it with the others in the room. She went to pick up her dress, which was near the blankets.
– You can't wear that – I said, still choosing the clothes – It's the only piece of clothing that's really yours, you don't want to ruin it, right?
I closed the doors of my closet and turned towards her.
– Thank you – She thanked me as soon as I handed her the pieces of clothing.
– Take your bath first – I said – My father will be awake soon too – She gave a weak nod, leaving the room right after.
I was making my bed when I heard my father's footsteps in the hallway. They were easy to recognize, since his steps were heavy in the morning on the floorboards.
– Good morning, Kakashi... – He said from my bedroom door.
– Good morning, otousan – I said without looking at him.
– Did you write this? – My father asked and I looked at him, seeing him holding a few sheets of paper – They were in the living room.
– I believe it was Amaya-san – I clarified – She was there earlier.
– Did you get a chance to look at this? – I shook my head.
– Why? – I asked.
My father held out the sheets and I went to him, taking them. No way..., I thought as I started analyzing them. She had solved all the battle strategies the scrolls presented. Did she do all of this this morning?, I questioned myself. No, it can't be... She would need much more time.
– It seems she really does have vast theoretical knowledge of battle... – My father commented quietly, more to himself.
– Is this something she was developed to learn? – I asked and he looked at me.
– Possibly – My father said, and I looked at the sheets once more.
She managed to solve all the situations without any major problems, I thought. And I haven't even managed to finish them all myself...
__________________________________________________________________________
It didn't take long for the Sandaime Hokage and Minato to show up. Neither I nor my father talked to Amaya about her notes. She also hadn't said much in general, only the necessary.
The five of us, after gathering, went to the open field training area that my father and I used for my training. The first thing they decided to do was find out Amaya's chakra nature affinity.
The test was simple, after all, all that was needed was a chakra paper and from it we would discover her chakra nature.
I bet on something between fire, earth, or wind, I thought. Fire because of the Uchiha blood she carries. Earth because she used it in the lab where she was created. And maybe wind, since it's common in the Uzumaki clan.
– Did you understand? – Minato asked after quickly explaining a few things and she nodded.
– You just need to concentrate a bit of your chakra in your hand – My father said and she looked at him – Like this.
He was holding one of the chakra papers in his hand and the next moment, the paper in his hand crumbled.
– If your affinity is with the earth nature, the paper will crumble like mine – My father explained – If it's water, it will get soaked. Lightning will wrinkle the paper. The paper will burn if it's fire. And if it's wind, it will split into two parts.
My father handed her one of the chakra paper sheets and she took it, looking briefly at it in her hands. Just like me, my father, the Sandaime, and Minato focused our attention on the paper in the girl's hands.
She stared fixedly at the paper and the next moment... It split into five parts? Just like me, Amaya immediately looked confused at the paper in her hand.
– Five parts? – She asked, lost, and looked in my father's direction – What does that mean?
Five parts?, I pondered silently. I've never seen or read about that before. What kind of chakra nature is that? I looked at my father, Minato, and the Sandaime, seeing them all with surprised expressions.
– Well now... – The Sandaime was the first to speak – That is definitely interesting.
– What does it mean? – I asked, eager to know, and they looked at me.
– I think I'd better explain – The Sandaime said – As you probably know, Kakashi-san, some people can be born with more than one chakra nature affinity – I gave a weak nod – And some people can master other natures that aren't their affinity.
– Like you – My father said – Your affinity is with lightning.
– But I can also use earth style – I said and he nodded.
– However, there are very few people like the Sandaime – Minato commented.
– Let me show you – The Sandaime said.
He held another chakra paper in his hand and the next moment, it split, just like Amaya's, into five parts.
– Five parts... – Amaya said quietly and I looked at the Sandaime.
– That means... – I started to say, but stopped, not believing it.
– That's right – The Sandaime admitted – Just like me, Amaya has an affinity for all five basic chakra natures.