Amaya Uzumaki POV
After the mission with the Analysis Team, I went with Minato to his house, where the Sandaime Hokage would come to talk to the blonde about what we discovered from my memories.
Minato thought it was better for me to be part of the conversation since I was directly involved, and also because I'd already missed almost the entire Academy class that day. I can easily catch up by talking with Kakashi, I reasoned, and set the topic aside.
Minato's house was located near the center of the village, but in a very quiet area.
– I think Kushina should be home at this hour – The blonde spoke with a weak smile and looked at me – She'll be happy to meet you.
– What is Kushina-san like? – Minato gave a soft laugh and looked forward again.
– I think the best word to describe her would be... Energetic.
I climbed the staircase to the front door with him and stopped by his side, waiting for him to open the door and enter the residence.
– I'm home – He announced and quickly took off his shoes, leaving them at the entrance.
I did the same and soon heard some hurried footsteps coming our way.
– Minato! – I heard the female voice and could tell from her tone alone that she was worried.
But what really intrigued me was the slight familiarity of that voice. I'm sure I've heard it before..., I thought. When the young woman appeared near the entrance, I understood where that feeling of familiarity came from.
– What happened, dattebane? – Kushina asked quickly – You left in a hurry yesterday and I heard you went to the hospital – She gestured as she spoke – I was worried and... – She stopped only when she looked in my direction.
Since I was behind Minato, she didn't see me at first. Her expression softened and, just like me, the redhead seemed to recognize me.
– Y-You... – She said, visibly surprised – You're Amaya-chan? – I nodded.
– And you must be Kushina-san – I said.
– I never imagined we'd meet again like this – The woman commented and I couldn't help but weakly agree.
– Maybe I missed something... – Minato spoke, visibly confused – But do you two already know each other?
__________________________________________________________________________
We told Minato how we knew each other, from the moment the boys came after me to when Kushina intervened.
– I never imagined you two would know each other that way – Namikaze said and looked at me – But Amaya-chan, why did you let them hit you?
– Violence is like a vicious cycle – I explained my thoughts – As long as someone continues it, there will never be true balance. If I can avoid it... I will. But if it's to protect someone, then the situation might be different – Minato gave a weak smile.
He was already used to my "adult" way of speaking. But when I looked at Kushina, I saw her with an irritated expression.
– Those idiots, dattebane! – She shouted – No matter how much time passes, there will always be people like them.
– What do you mean? – I asked and the redhead looked at me.
– When I was your age, the boys also picked on me, made fun of my appearance and my hair.
– And did you avoid them too? – The redhead didn't answer right away, just smiling visibly nervously while scratching her head slightly.
– Well... – She began to speak and gave a weak laugh.
– She was known as the Red Hot Habanero – Minato said with a weak smile – The girl who beat up all the boys. Everyone was afraid of her.
– Including you, Minato-sama? – I asked curiously and Kushina laughed.
– Him more than anyone – Minato and I shared a weak laugh.
Just like Namikaze, she radiated a contagious and welcoming energy. Her spontaneous nature could easily win people over, I mused with a faint smile.
– But there's something I couldn't ask you back then, Amaya-chan – Kushina redirected the conversation – Why did you leave in such a hurry that day we first met?
That's when I remembered the negative energy I had sensed when I looked at her more closely. I stared at her for a moment, seeing the slight curiosity on her face, and on Minato's as well.
– Kushina-san... – I spoke calmly, trying to find the best way to explain – When you approached me, I could feel your chakra – She looked at me a bit confused.
– You felt my chakra...? – She questioned – What do you mean?
– Unlike now, it felt like there was a kind of negative energy mixed with your chakra, and in a very large amount.
Her expression, as well as Minato's, turned more serious. They looked at each other for a moment, as if something was worrying them – and especially as if they both knew what I was talking about.
– How would you describe the chakra you felt? – The blonde asked.
– I... I'm not sure how to explain it, but it felt dark, it emitted a dense energy that scared me at the time. The air even seemed to grow heavier. I had never felt something of such magnitude coming from a single person.
– Minato, could it be that she... – Kushina started to speak but stopped, looking at the blonde.
Before either of them could say anything, we heard a knock on the door. The heavy atmosphere that had suddenly formed dissipated and Minato stood up.
– I'll get it. It must be the Sandaime – He explained and left the kitchen, where we were talking at the table.
– Did I say something I shouldn't have? – I asked Kushina and she looked at me.
– No – She said quickly – Not at all. It's just that... – She gave a weak laugh – It's nothing for you to worry about, at least for now – She gave a weak smile and I returned it – And, even though you're not like me when it comes to fighting, I can see you're tough – The redhead spoke with an excited little smile.
– Why do you say that? – I asked.
– For not showing any reaction after a punch like that – She said.
– Although his punch wasn't weak, that kind of pain doesn't bother me anymore – I spoke calmly and saw the woman's expression become concerned.
– Minato told me about what you went through in the lab – She looked at me – It seems we both have things we'd like to forget... – She lowered her eyes for a moment.
Things we'd like to forget?, I thought. It seems Kushina and I might have much more in common than just our bloodline.
– Would you like some tea? – She asked and I nodded.
– Yes, thank you – The redhead stood up and started preparing the water for tea – Can I ask you a question, Kushina-san? – She looked at me.
– A question? – She said with an excited smile – Of course, dattebane!
– Why do you end your sentences with "dattebane" when you're excited, angry, or worried? – The redhead turned and looked at me.
– Have I used it that many times? – She asked, sounding a bit worried – Sorry, I try to control it, but it's a bad habit of mine, dattebane... – She stopped for a moment when she realized she'd said it again and we both ended up laughing.
– I think it suits you – I commented after a few moments and she looked at me – I mean, it matches your spontaneous personality – She gave an infectious smile.
– You're the second person to tell me that.
– Second? – She nodded.
– Yes, Minato was the first person to treat me well like that – Kushina smiled tenderly – And also the one who made me accept myself – She fiddled with a strand of her hair and smiled weakly.
– And you became the person Minato-sama likes – I said and the redhead looked at me.
Her face took on the same shade as her hair. She covered her face with her hands for a moment. Did I say something wrong?, I wondered. No... She seems... Happy? She let out a small squeal and came close to me, hugging me tightly.
– Ah! – She said excitedly – You're so cute, dattebane! – I gave a weak laugh.
Minato Namikaze POV
As I left the kitchen and headed for the front door, I quickly thought about what Amaya had just told us. Could she really have sensed the Kyuubi's chakra? It's hard to believe, since even for a jounin it's nearly impossible to sense it.
I shook my head slightly. Now is not the time to think about this. I stopped in front of the door and opened it quickly, seeing the Sandaime there indeed. I gave a slight bow and made space for him to enter.
– Welcome, Sandaime – I said without delay – Amaya-chan is in the kitchen with Kushina.
– So they've already met? – He asked with a weak smile and I nodded.
We headed to the kitchen and when we arrived at the door, I saw Kushina hugging Amaya. Well, not just hugging, she was almost suffocating her with how tightly she had wrapped her arms around her.
– Kushina... – I called her and she looked at us with a smile.
– I want to keep Amaya-chan in a little jar! – The redhead said and the younger girl just gave a weak laugh, as did I and the Sandaime.
I told the Sandaime, together with Amaya, everything we learned from going to the Analysis Team. When I told him about the lab's objective with those children, although the Sandaime didn't show it, I knew how worried he was.
I am too, I admit. Whoever is behind the experiments knows about the Uchiha's kekkei genkai and wanted to take that power for themselves. And to create children just for that... I clenched my fist. It's unforgivable.
After we discussed everything, the Sandaime stressed that Amaya shouldn't talk about it with other people, as it could create problems in the long run. He noted that since she has some affinity with Shisui and Kakashi, she could tell them, but only if she was sure they wouldn't endanger those secrets.
A few times during our conversation, I found myself forgetting that Amaya was still just a child. Listening to her speak was like hearing a young woman.
We don't know her age, I thought, although she seems to be about the same age as Kakashi, her mind and behavior seem more mature than most adults.
That was due to how she was raised, as an adaptive being, able to adjust to any environment or situation she found herself in. I just wish she could be like a child, that she didn't have to act like an adult...
Even though I knew that would be almost impossible for her, after all, she herself had shown many times that she was willing to carry a terrible burden if it was for the good of those around her.
I wish I could do something to let her be, even if just for a moment, like other people her age. I looked at her. I wanted to give her back the pure essence that was taken from her. To show her the goodness that exists in the world...
– There's also another thing I'd like to discuss with you, Amaya-san – The Sandaime commented suddenly – About the Academy exam, I heard you finished it very quickly.
– Yes, and it seems that's not very common, since the teacher was a bit suspicious – The girl spoke calmly.
– Indeed. Not even Minato finished that fast – The girl looked at me.
– Really? – She asked – How long did it take you to complete the exams, Minato-sama? – I scratched my head slightly.
– I'm not sure... – I said – But maybe about forty minutes.
– And did you do well on the exams? – Amaya asked.
– Yes, usually – I said and Kushina gave a weak laugh.
– Please, Minato... – The redhead looked at Amaya – He had the best grades in the Academy – The girl looked surprised and stared at me.
– Seriously? – She asked and I gave a weak laugh, nodding.
– And how did you do on the exam, Amaya-chan? – I asked.
– The results were supposed to come out today – She explained – So I don't know yet.
– I spoke with your teacher earlier – The Sandaime spoke and we looked at him – He was a bit surprised by your performance.
– Why? – The younger one asked, confused.
– Because you finished the exam in about twenty minutes, he thought you might have cheated somehow.
– What? – Kushina and I asked in unison.
Twenty minutes?, I thought. No wonder her teacher was doubtful. The Academy exams are extensive, and unless you know the subjects very well, there's no way to finish that quickly.
– But I didn't – Amaya was firm.
– I also believed you wouldn't do that – The Sandaime clarified – So I asked them to call one of your classmates to speak about you.
– They called a classmate...? – She looked at him – You mean Kakashi-kun? – The Sandaime nodded.
– Although he has some affinity with you, as Sakumo's son, he values what's right above all else. So if he knew you had cheated in some way...
– He would say so – The girl said quickly and the Sandaime nodded.
– But you wouldn't involve Kakashi-san just because of the exam time – I raised the point and the Sandaime, as well as Amaya, looked at me.
– Indeed – The Third agreed – What bothered your teacher was your exam itself – He handed us a few sheets of paper.
The Academy exam, I identified upon seeing the header on the first page. My eyes quickly went to the score section, leaving me a bit surprised. Perfect score?
Now the teacher's suspicion makes sense. The Academy exams are designed so that no student can achieve a perfect score. Even I would miss one or two questions for not knowing how to answer them properly.
But Amaya had done it.
– Some of the Academy teachers wanted you to retake the exam, with different questions, to ensure your results are solely due to your knowledge – The Sandaime said and we looked at him.
– I wouldn't mind taking the exam again – Amaya clarified – If it's really necessary.
– That's unfair! – Kushina protested – If she did well and they already proved Amaya-chan didn't cheat, then she doesn't need to do anything else!
– I understand your position, Kushina-san – The Sandaime said – But unlike us, there are still many people who don't view Amaya-san's presence favorably – He looked at the girl – And they also can't see her as a future kunoichi of Konoha.
– But there has to be something to make those idiots accept her, dattebane! – Kushina spoke, slightly irritated, and I nodded, since I agreed with her.
– What about the genin graduation exam? – Amaya asked suddenly, making us look at her – Sakumo-sama told me about it, in case I wanted to graduate early, since I already know the basic Academy teachings.
– That would be a possibility – I commented and looked at the Sandaime for his approval, receiving a weak nod.
– Definitely – He spoke and looked at Amaya – But if you're really willing to take the exam, you need to prepare for the tests – She nodded.
– How long until the exam? – Amaya asked.
– It happens twice a year. The first one is in three weeks.
– Three weeks... – The younger redhead pondered and then gave a weak smile – That should be enough.