Amaya Uzumaki POV
After the Academy orientation meeting, Sakumo suggested we go to the village park. Kakashi was walking a bit ahead of us, while I walked beside Sakumo.
– Amaya-chan... – The older Hatake called me as we walked, and I looked at him – There are a few things I wanted to talk to you about, is that okay? – I nodded.
When we got to the park, I saw there were already some kids with their parents around. A few of them, upon seeing us, immediately started whispering and moving away. Kakashi headed for one of the park's play structures, while I followed Sakumo to one of the benches.
– Are you okay? – He asked first, and I turned my eyes to him.
– You mean about the stares? – I asked, and he nodded – Yes, they don't make me as uncomfortable anymore – Sakumo gave a weak, relieved smile.
– Well... That's good – He leaned back on the bench – I know it must be a bit complicated to adapt to life in the village so suddenly, especially with so many people treating you coldly.
– Actually, I don't worry too much about how they treat me. I believe that having a few people like you, who accept me, is enough for me to try my best – I looked at Sakumo, finding him with a more genuine smile.
– I think you'll never stop surprising me with your way of thinking – He put his hand on my head.
– And what else did you want to talk to me about? – I asked a moment later.
– The second thing was about the Academy – I looked at him – As the Sandaime explained to you, it's meant to train and develop young people to become ninjas – I listened attentively – But in your case, you're already at a much more advanced level than the other students who are just starting – He looked over at Kakashi, who was further away – You're even at a higher level than my son – I looked at the boy – Possibly at a chunin level – I turned my gaze back to him.
– And is that a problem? – I asked, and he shook his head.
– Not at all – Only then did Sakumo turn his eyes back to me – But I wanted to explain something to you. If you want, later on, you can request a graduation exam.
– Graduation exam? – He nodded.
– If an Academy student is proficient in skills and knowledge, they can request a test to graduate early, instead of their teachers keeping them locked in with the others.
– And is the exam theory or practical? – I asked.
– Both. The theory part covers all the basics taught: Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Ninjutsu, battle strategies, and weapon practice. The practical part varies from year to year, but it's usually the use of a D or C rank jutsu.
– If you pass, what happens to the student? – I continued with my questions to clear up all my doubts.
– They receive a headband with the village symbol and the rank of genin, are placed in a team with other genins under the supervision of a jounin sensei, and can then take on missions inside and even outside the village.
Like Shisui..., I thought, remembering the headband he wore and his comment about having already graduated from the Academy.
– But I don't want you to think I'm forcing you to take the exams... – Sakumo clarified quickly, and I gave a weak laugh.
– It's fine – I looked at him – Thanks for the tip – He smiled weakly.
– And the last thing I wanted to talk to you about, well, it's not exactly talking... – He sighed – I wanted to ask you something and ask you a favor – I looked at him curiously.
Kakashi Hatake POV
My father had suggested we go to the park, but he'd spent most of the time just talking with Amaya. What are they talking about?, I wondered. And what do they even have to talk about for so long?
Most of the time the girl seemed serious, keeping her usual neutral expression. My father, on the other hand, seemed like he wouldn't stop talking. He always talks too much when they let him..., I pointed out mentally.
A few moments later, my father stopped talking and Amaya was the one who started speaking, keeping it up for a few minutes. When she stopped and looked at my father again, I saw him smiling. The way he's smiling at her..., I thought. He only smiles like that when he talks about okaasan...
No..., I quickly denied that thought. He wouldn't be talking about her to Amaya... Right after, my father started laughing and I saw the girl looking at him confused, just like me. Maybe my father has finally gone crazy...
They talked briefly about something, until my father started talking again. That same smile from before returned to his expression as he commented on something to Amaya. Yes, I finally accepted my previous hypothesis, he really is talking about okaasan to her. But why?
A few moments later, I noticed Amaya looking in my direction. Are they talking about me now? Why is my father so close to this girl? He's my father, if he was discussing okaasan, he should be talking to me, not with that... That...
I could only sigh heavily. I can't even be angry at her, I admitted. I'm annoyed at the situation, but with Amaya... I can't be annoyed with her. She seems so calm, so quiet...
My father stood up a few moments later and finally said something to the girl, who just gave a weak nod. He smiled and put his hand on her head. He only does that with me..., I thought.
Without much delay, my father came over to me next, and Amaya remained on the bench where they had been talking. I stayed silent until he approached me.
– Are we leaving already? – I asked, keeping some indifference.
– We still have some time before I need to meet up with my team – I gave a weak nod, without much interest – What's wrong? You're very quiet.
– I'm the same as always, otousan – I said without looking at him.
– And that pouting expression? Even without seeing your face, I know you're scowling.
– I'm not pouting... – I complained quietly.
– Are you like this because I'm going on the last-minute mission?
– No – I said quickly – I know you need to fight for the good of the village.
– Then what is it? – I remained silent – Is it because of Amaya-chan? – I glanced at him sideways – You... Are you jealous because I was talking with her? – I averted my gaze from him.
My father started laughing and I closed off my expression, slightly irritated with him. And with myself too, I thought, after all, I am... Jealous of my father with her. He put his hand on my head and I kept my gaze turned away.
– Kakashi... You don't need to be like that, I was talking about some Academy things with her.
– You were talking about okaasan – I cut him off directly and looked at him – You only smile like that when you talk about her – My father paused for a moment and then gave a weak smile.
– Yes, I talked about your mother to Amaya-chan too.
– And what did you say? – I asked, and my father looked at me.
– That, you'll have to ask Amaya-chan – I looked at him in disbelief.
– What? – And he just gave a weak laugh – Otousan!
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My father ended up brushing it off and didn't tell me what he had said about my mother to Amaya. And at the same time, I didn't want to give in and ask the girl.
We went back home in the late afternoon and my father went to finish checking his mission equipment, as well as put on his standard gear to finally leave.
I was in the living room, while Amaya was sitting on the front porch of the house, with a notepad in her hands. Is she doing some exercises?, I wondered vaguely. No, she doesn't have any scrolls. So what is it?
– Kakashi... – My father called me, pulling me from my thoughts.
– Yes? – I looked at him, seeing him ready to leave.
– Can you come with me? – I gave a weak nod, standing up.
My father passed through the front door and looked at Amaya, who promptly put down the notepad she had in her hands. I didn't even get to see what she was doing..., I thought. Since it seemed my father still had something to say to the Uzumaki, I waited for him a little further away from the porch.
– If you need any help or have any problems at the Academy – My father commented to the girl – Try talking to Minato, or even the Sandaime – She nodded.
– Good luck on your mission, Sakumo-sama – She said with sincerity and some concern in her tone – And... Be careful.
– Of course – He approached her and hugged her.
I put my hands in my pants pockets and my father came to where I was not long after. He finally waved to the girl, before we started walking.
– Did you want to talk to me about something, otousan? – I asked after a few moments.
– Kakashi, I want to ask you to do something for me while I'm away – I nodded promptly – Try to get closer to Amaya-chan – I looked at him, bewildered.
– What? – I asked, doubtful about what I was hearing – Why?
– I raised you in the way I believed was the best possible – My father kept his gaze on the path ahead – But you never had the maternal affection you should have. You never had feminine subtlety to help you become a more understanding person – Those words gave me some idea of the intent behind that conversation.
– Amaya-san doesn't seem like the best example of 'feminine subtlety' – I commented, and my father gave a weak laugh.
– It might not seem like it, but she has a strong sense of justice, which makes her compassionate – He looked at me frankly – She can teach you what you couldn't learn from Hideaki and from me.
– It would take her years to do that – I expressed my thoughts sincerely – If she even could...
– Then it's good to start soon – My father commented, smiling – Who knows, maybe you'll secure your future wife in the process?
– No! – I denied quickly – I am not going to marry her!
– I said the same about your mother and, well... – I interrupted him.
– Otousan! – My father laughed and ruffled my hair, not continuing his teasing.
I accompanied him to the village entrance. We talked about other things and it seemed like we had returned to the days when it was just the two of us.
When we reached the village entrance, we saw that the regular team that accompanied my father was already waiting for him. We stopped a little before reaching them and my father crouched in front of me, holding my shoulders lightly.
– Will you be able to do what I asked? – I averted my eyes from him – Will you at least try?
– Yes... – I said reluctantly, and I saw him smile.
– Try to improve this bad mood of yours too – I looked at him more seriously.
– One annoying request at a time, otousan – I stared at him, and he gave a weak laugh.
My father pulled me close to him, hugging me tightly. He knows I hate public displays of affection..., I complained silently.
– You're suffocating me, otousan... – I warned him, and he quickly let me go, giving a weak laugh afterwards.
– Sorry – He looked at me deeply – Take care, and keep an eye on Amaya-chan at the Academy, okay?
– You know she can take care of herself – I reminded him, after all, he better than anyone should know the Uzumaki wasn't like the others.
– I'm not saying it for her sake – He had a more serious expression – You know people still aren't comfortable with her presence.
Not even I am..., I thought.
My father headed out of the village, and he and his team soon disappeared from view. I calmly walked back home, thinking about everything my father had told me.
How does he think I could get closer to Amaya?, I reflected. We have nothing in common, except for the fact that we don't speak more than necessary. Well, I guess I can leave that for later, after all, tomorrow we have our first Academy class and I prefer to have my mind focused on that.
From the moment I got back home until bedtime, Amaya and I didn't exchange a single word. We had dinner as usual too: me in the kitchen and her in the living room.
I silently pondered something to try and talk to her about, but I couldn't find anything. She manages to be the most neutral living being in the world, I thought. I didn't even see that notepad she had earlier again to try and talk about it.
When we went to sleep, I couldn't fall asleep no matter what. The silence in the house was deadly. The moonlight came in through my bedroom window, through the thin closed curtain. It was a colder night than usual.
That's when I looked in Amaya's direction. Unlike usual, her expression was troubled, as if she was dreaming about something bad. The girl moved her head slightly from side to side. And since silence reigned in the house, I could hear her breathing become rapid.
Suddenly, she sat up quickly in her bed, still with her breathing panting and uneven. I remained still, just watching her.
She was breathing fast, as if searching for lost air. She raised her hands and stared at them for a few moments with a frightened expression. She looks terrified, I corrected myself, that's more like it.
She closed her hands and stood up after a few moments, grabbing one of the blankets from her bed. She threw it over her shoulders and headed out of the room without making a sound.
Is this why she's always awake before everyone else?, I pondered. Because she stays up all night after having these nightmares? But what could she have dreamed about exactly to end up like this?