Kakashi Hatake POV
It took me longer than I would have liked to find everything on the list my father gave me. The village was unusually busy for that time of the morning. I only managed to get back home around noon.
– I'm home – I announced as usual and left my shoes at the entrance.
It seemed my father hadn't returned from his meeting with the Sandaime Hokage yet. When I went to put the groceries away in the kitchen, I saw that some items from the list I'd left with Amaya were already there. Did she get back before me? I wondered.
I quickly put away everything I'd bought and couldn't find the girl anywhere in the house. Maybe she's in the dojo, I thought. She's been spending a lot of time there lately.
I headed to the back of the house and paused briefly on the porch, taking a deep breath for a moment. I followed the stone path to the dojo, seeing its door closed and a heavy silence in the air.
I gave a slight bow before entering and left my shoes at the entrance. I walked silently across the dojo floor, stopping in front of the training room. I slid the door open without making a sound, and that's when I saw Amaya.
She had a blindfold covering her eyes and two wakizashi in her hands. She moved with dexterity, silent and fast. She sliced the air with the swords with precision and a certain delicacy, making me stop and just watch her for a few moments.
Her body seemed to move on its own, as if there was really someone fighting against her right then and there. She doesn't even seem like the same Amaya I see at home..., I briefly mused.
But suddenly she stopped, holding the wakizashi in the air, poised at the height of her own neck. She remained static, seemingly even holding her breath. That's when I saw her hands trembling slightly.
The swords fell from her hands and she lowered her head a little, then dropped to her knees on the tatami mats. Without thinking, I quickly went to her, stopping in front of her and gently holding her shoulders.
– Hey, are you okay? – I asked and removed the blindfold she was using.
That's when I saw her with a distant, and I'd dare say, frightened expression. Her breathing was rapid and her hands still trembled weakly. I also noticed she had a cut on her lower lip. What the hell happened to her? I thought as I observed her.
– Sorry... – she uttered softly after a few seconds – I must be disturbing your training... – She got to her feet and I did the same.
– What happened to you? – I asked.
– Nothing... – she said quietly – Sorry again, and thank you – The redhead offered a weak smile and quickly left the dojo room.
I stood rooted to the spot, unsure how to react. She dodged the question and me, I thought. Well, I can't expect any other reaction from her. After all, I'm always avoiding her, and she hasn't tried to get close since the first day we met.
But her eyes..., I reflected, remembering the Uzumaki's face. Her expression of fear... It looked like she had seen something horrible. Maybe I should try talking to her again another time, or maybe talk to my father about it.
I picked up the swords she had been using and quickly analyzed them. She seems very experienced with them, I pondered, and turned my gaze towards the room's entrance where she had just left. How many secrets are you carrying with you, Amaya?
__________________________________________________________________________
I only returned after a few hours of training. Honestly, I spent most of that time distracted, thinking about Amaya and her behavior earlier. She seems to be hiding something, I thought, and something important at that.
As I was heading back home, I saw the kitchen light on and smelled something great coming from there. Miso soup with eggplant, I thought, recognizing the scent, one of my favorite dishes.
– I'm home – I announced as I entered and took off my shoes.
– Kakashi... – I heard my father call me – Come here for a minute.
I went to the kitchen and, contrary to what I expected, my father wasn't cooking. It was Amaya who was near the stove, cooking some vegetables, while my father just watched her from his seat at the table.
I glanced briefly at the girl and saw she had her usual soft, neutral expression. And the cut on her lip had almost completely disappeared, leaving only a faint mark, almost imperceptible. How...? I wondered, confused.
– Amaya-chan told me you were training, so I explained to her what the Sandaime discussed with me today – My father pointed to the chair near me and I sat at the table with him.
– Did he give you a new mission? – I asked right away, and a simple nod was his response.
– Yes, but this one is different – He placed his hands on the table – I can't say how long I'll be gone. It could take weeks, maybe even months.
– And when are you leaving?
– Tomorrow – He announced bluntly and looked at me – The Sandaime is letting us leave in the afternoon so I can be with you and Amaya-chan to check your Academy admissions.
– It's a mission because of the War, isn't it? – Amaya asked, and like my father, I looked at her.
– Yes – He gave a weak smile – But you don't need to worry, I'll be back sooner than you think.
My father and I had dinner in the kitchen, and as usual, Amaya went to eat in the living room. She can read the room very quickly, I thought vaguely, and she knows how to keep situations around her balanced so everyone feels comfortable...
– What are you thinking about? – My father asked suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts – You get this quiet only when you're thinking about something important.
– No, it's just something... – I stopped for a moment and sighed – Otousan, do you know what Amaya-san used to do in that laboratory where you and Minato-san brought her from? – He looked at me, surprised.
– Why this sudden interest in her past? – My father asked – She's been here for just over a month, and this is the first time I've seen you voluntarily ask about her.
– It's just curiosity – I said quickly, brushing it off – After seeing her get tested that day, and today training, I wanted to know a bit.
– And why don't you ask her, then? – I looked at him.
– I doubt she'd tell me anything... – My father gave a weak laugh.
– If you keep being so avoidant with people, no one will ever be able to talk to you or tell you anything – I lowered my eyes for a second, remembering when Amaya "ran away" from me in the dojo – But I can tell you a little of what I know – I turned my eyes back to him.
My father told me what he learned from Minato about Amaya. According to the Analysis Team, she and the other children were forced to fight each other.
The children in that laboratory, like Amaya, were taught about ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, with the information being implanted into their minds.
Amaya had been the only one out of nearly a hundred children found at the time to survive. And many of those children, like her, had been killed by their own hands.
And when the Analysis Team searched Amaya's memories for information, they ended up making her remember almost everything that, for some reason, seemed to have been blocked by and for her.
– Minato said she went into shock when she remembered all that – My father commented finally – Although we don't know why she did all that in the first place, it seemed that remembering those situations had left her disoriented.
Just like when I saw her in the dojo, I thought. She seemed to be in shock, and from what my father told me, she had fought the other children using wakizashi.
– Did she manage to remember the name the boy gave her? – I asked next, looking at him.
– As far as I know, no – My father sighed – The boy used a jutsu that only the user or the victim could break.
– So, if she can't remember the name he gave her...
– It's very likely she won't remember anything – My father said.
– And is there any way to help her remember? – He placed his hand under his chin, thinking briefly.
– The recommended approach would be for her to wait for the memories to come with time – My father looked at me – But in some cases, recreating the situation could help recover the memories.
Recreate the situation? I pondered. Was she trying to do that in the dojo? That would explain why she spends so much time there and her negative reaction when she tried earlier...
– She couldn't do it alone... – I muttered softly, accidentally saying it out loud instead of in my head.
– What? – My father asked and I looked at him.
– Sorry... – I gave a weak laugh – I was thinking out loud – He gave a weak laugh too and ran his hand through my hair, messing it up.
– Just don't think too much, leave that for the Academy – I gave a weak nod.
That night, I ended up staying up late, thinking about everything my father had told me. I didn't discuss what happened with Amaya earlier with him, so as not to worry him on the eve of his mission, since I understood its importance.
Even though I went to bed late, I woke up early. As always, Amaya was already awake before me and my father. It seems like she doesn't sleep..., I thought as I got up, pausing for a moment as a strange thought occurred to me. Does she even sleep...?
However, I didn't dwell on that momentary daydream for long. I got dressed after my shower and had breakfast without delay. Amaya was already dressed and sitting on the house's porch, looking distractedly at the sky.
– Shall we? – My father asked and I looked at him, giving a weak nod.
Amaya UzumakiPOV
Kakashi and I were walking alongside Sakumo through the village, heading to the Academy. When we got there, a large crowd of people was already looking at the list of students accepted into the Academy.
While Sakumo looked at the board, I saw a man with a boy on his shoulders nearby, both wearing a kind of dark green jumpsuit.
– Weirdos... – I heard Kakashi comment under his breath, with clear disdain.
– Amaya-kun! – I heard someone call my name cheerfully and quickly looked in the direction of the familiar voice.
– Shisui-kun... – I said with a discreet smile and approached the Uchiha who was coming towards me – Did you come to see if you passed the Academy entrance too?
– I don't need that – He said and I looked at him, not understanding – I already graduated from the Academy – He pointed to the headband with Konoha's symbol on his head.
– Really? – I asked, surprised – Then why are you here today?
– I knew you'd come here to see if you were accepted in the first enrollment list – He explained with an even brighter smile – And I also wanted to know who you've been with all this time.
– Minato-sama and the Sandaime Hokage asked me not to talk much about that... – I said quietly and glanced discreetly around, because of the number of people there.
– Ah, right... – Shisui said and put a hand on his head, laughing weakly – Sorry.
– Maybe I can talk about it another time, but now it's...
– Kind of impossible, right? – I agreed – No problem – He gave a weak smile – I can see you're doing well – I nodded.
– Yes. And how are you and Akemi-san? – He scratched his head slightly.
– I'd say the same – He gave a weak laugh – My mother said the doors are always open for you, so come by whenever you want to see her or me, the best ninja in the Uchiha clan – I gave a weak laugh and Shisui did too right after.
– Hey, Amaya-san... – I heard Kakashi call me and looked at him, seeing him quickly alternate his gaze between me and Shisui – Let's go – I gave a weak nod and looked back at the Uchiha.
– I have to go – I said – See you another time? – He smiled.
– Sure!
With that, I went to where Kakashi and Sakumo were and stopped near them.
POV Kakashi Hatake
– Just as I expected from you, son! – My father said happily and then looked at Amaya with a smile – You too, Amaya-chan. You'll be starting together.
– And now? – The Uzumaki asked.
– We have to do your official registration – My father explained.
– Then let's be quick, otousan – I said and started walking towards the Academy.
– No need to rush – He said, unconcerned – The Academy isn't going to run away, is it?
– There's a time for registration – I commented – Besides, did you bring all the documents, otousan?
– Yes, I did – He said.
– What documents? – Amaya asked, clearly lost on the subject.
– Don't worry – My father said to reassure her – In your case, just the provisional certificate you made with the Sandaime will suffice – The girl gave a weak nod.
Just as we were about to enter the Academy courtyard, we saw that same father and son in the strange green clothes standing right in front of it.
– Nice to meet you – My father said and they looked at us – My son and his friend will be students at the Academy.
– Otousan... – I complained and sighed weakly.
– I hope the three of them get along well – My father said with a weak smile.
– I'm afraid that's impossible – The strange father of the strange boy said without any hesitation.
– What? – My father asked, worried – My, my... Are you one of those controlling parents?!
– No, otousan, it's not that – I said and observed the strange father and son out of the corner of my eye – He failed the Academy entrance exam.
– Oh, my apologies – My father said quickly, immediately getting flustered trying to correct himself – It's just that I thought since you're in front of the Academy... – The strange father laughed.
– Don't worry about it!
– I don't think that's funny – I commented and crossed my arms.
– Hey, Kakashi – My father scolded me – Don't be rude – I looked at him.
– But, otousan, you were much ruder just now – I reminded him – I mean... – I looked at the strange boy – This guy is trying to get into the Academy and he can't even use ninjutsu? Anyway, we have to go or we'll be late – And without waiting any longer, I walked past the pair of strange father and son.
– Right... – I heard my father say quietly.
– I hope you get in on the second list – I heard Amaya say calmly, and I stopped, as did my father, and saw her near the two strange ones – Excuse me – She gave a weak smile and only then passed by them.
– What's your name? – The strange boy asked Amaya and she stopped, looking at him.
– Amaya, Amaya Uzumaki – She announced calmly.
– And your name is Kakashi Hatake, right? – He asked rhetorically and looked at me – Thanks for the support!
I looked at him, not understanding, while the strange boy's father gave a weak smile. Then, the two began to walk away from where we were.
– Kakashi... – My father called me and I looked at him – Don't get complacent just because you got into the Academy.
– Huh? – I asked, confused.
– At the rate he's training, he's going to get stronger than you.
– Is he? – I asked skeptically, even though my father wasn't the type to make a comment like that as a joke.
– As Amaya-chan said, they haven't announced the second list yet – My father crouched down beside me – The Academy isn't stupid. You should have asked for his name and remembered it.
– What? – I complained with distaste.
My father just gave a weak smile, offering no further explanation for the reasoning behind his words, and placed his hand on my head.
– He'll be a good rival for you – I sighed in defeat.
– Hey, you! – I called out to the strange boy and he stopped further ahead, turning towards me – What's your name? – He smiled.
– Maito Gai! – He announced excitedly – And I will be the strongest ninja!
– Good luck! – Amaya encouraged as the two walked away for good.
I looked at the girl, disbelieving. She's being sincere..., I thought. She really thinks that strange guy can actually become a ninja?
– Seems like something happened between you two... – My father commented more quietly and I looked at him.
– What? – I asked, not hiding my confusion.
– You spent all this time avoiding her – He said and looked in Amaya's direction – But suddenly, it seems like you're analyzing everything she does.
– You're imagining things, otousan... – I said, brushing it off, and he gave a weak laugh.
– Maybe i am.