Chapter Text
Hair the color of crimson fluttered in the air, floating in the spring breeze.
The leaves trembled on the trees.
She clenched her blade to her chest with a smile.
The flame-striped mask behind her, staring her down.
She knew. She knew.
“So, you’ve finally found me, huh?”
–
You’ve probably spent at least two hours cleaning the infirmary, organizing the medical equipment, washing and changing the sheets on the beds, and the pillows. It was a good deed, you told yourself, even though you knew exactly why you were doing it.
Your shift ended awhile ago, and Lord Third had requested your presence once you had finished. So, you had been putting it off, tending to the infirmary instead, somehow hoping the older man would forget about you all together, but you knew he wouldn’t. He never does.
You had messed up badly this time. It was probably one of the worst mistakes you’ve made. But you couldn’t help yourself. You’ve always been quick to anger, hot tempered and impulsive, but in the past years it’s gotten worse. You didn’t want to say it was completely your fault, after all the people of this village could be awful, cruel, ruthless things that lacked any empathy, especially not to an outsider such as yourself.
You frowned to yourself as you folded the blankets on the bed, grabbing a pillow and stuffing it into the cloth case. There was a knock at the door that pulled you from your thoughts, making your aggressive cleaning go to a halt.
It was Yugao, one of your fellow anbu members. She was one of the few that had been somewhat kind to you. One of the few that actually acknowledged your existence and talked to you like you were an actual person. You supposed she was the closest thing you had to a friend.
She was still dawned in her gear, wearing the standard issue grey armoured vest, and dark clothes beneath, but her mask was off, revealing her face. She must’ve just gotten back from a mission.
“Do you need treatment?” You offered.
She shook her head. “Lord Hokage would like to see you. He ordered me to come retrieve you.”
You took a breath, letting your shoulders slump, feeling the dread and reluctance building inside.
“You know putting it off will only make him more angry.”
“...I know.”
She offered you a small, pitiful smile.
“C’mon, let’s go.”
–
“You asked to see me?” You knelt on the floor of the office before the older man, showing him your respect. You crouched down, one hand on your knee, the other to the floor, bowing your head. You knew this was going to be painful. You could hardly even look at him, just stared at the floor, waiting for the berating to begin.
Lord Third’s lips wrapped around the pipe he had in hand, and he blew out a puff of smoke. He gazed out the window, which showed a view of the entire village in front of him, before looking back at you.
“I believe I called for you over two hours ago.”
“Yes, I’m sorry, I was tending to the-”
“I don’t want to hear your excuses. When I ask for you, you come here in a timely fashion. Is that understood?”
You nodded, still refusing to make eye contact, glaring at the floor instead.
“Yes sir.”
“Good. Now what is this that happened today? You struck the captain of your squad?”
You didn’t respond. He said your name, finally causing you to meet his gaze.
“Explain to me. What is the meaning of this? Why did you do it?”
You let out a deep breath.
“Captain Daiki and I had gotten into a verbal altercation after our mission this afternoon. One of our teammates could’ve gotten hurt badly due to the command he made, and I called him out on it. Of course, he didn’t exactly respond well and he said I was some stupid outsider…just like- just like my mother.”
The old man pinched at the bridge of his nose, letting out a frustrated sigh.
“I see…While Daiki may have been out of line, he is still your captain, and you must listen to his orders.”
“I know, but what he did put us all at risk, especially my teammates, I was just looking out for them, and he had bad judgment-”
“I’m not finished.” He cut in, glowering down at you. “You cannot be insubordinate, and hitting your own captain, a comrade, is completely unacceptable.”
You nodded, slumping back slightly. He looked at you again, sighing.
“You think I like doing this? Disciplining you all the time? Yelling at you? Of course not. I know you are a bright kunoichi, but the others are starting to doubt that, and they are starting to doubt me and my judgment for having you in the Black-Ops, and I am tempted to pull you out.”
You opened your mouth, frantic and panicked. “Sir, please-”
“However, I’m not going to do that. I know this hasn’t been easy for you, moving here and adjusting to this life, but it has been seven years. You’re not alone anymore. You’re serving and protecting the people of this village, and you must be loyal to them. You need to know that. Something must change. So, effective immediately, I am having you reassigned to Team Ro, under Kakashi Hatake. Hopefully, under his leadership you will find your place here.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Now, go, take the weekend to think about the shinobi you want to be, and how you can serve this village. This is your last chance in the Anbu. So do not take this lightly.”
–
When you stepped out into the hall, you spotted two of the Anbu members, your previous teammate and Captain, leering at you smugly.
“So, you got reassigned again, huh?” Your teammate asked.
“Who is it this time? Let’s see…you’ve run through all the other teams so this one has to be..Kakashi’s.” Daiki remarked.
“Good luck with that, going with the Friend Killer. He’ll do anything to make sure he has a successful mission, including killing his own comrades.”
“Knowing you and the way you mouth off, he’ll probably kill you too. He’ll probably be doing you a favor, with how useless you are as a shinobi.”
You felt your fists clench, a snide comment about the rough looking shiner you had given Daiki burned in your throat, threatening to break free. But after just getting chewed out by the Hokage, and standing right in his hall, you knew better. So you ignored the anger bubbling inside, walking past and ignoring them.
“Got nothing to say, huh? That’s what I thought. Go ahead and run home, bunny. And good luck, you’re gonna need it.” Daiki called after you.
Bunny. God, you hated that nickname. It was a taunt. Mocking you, your mask and code name, Hare. The men said you looked and acted more like an angry little bunny, stomping your feet and yelling all the time. It was demeaning, dumbing you down to something you weren’t. Someone you weren’t.
Unfortunately, it seemed like that’s how this whole village was. Judging people before they even knew them, going off looks and reputation rather than their true character. So how could you fight for them? When you knew none of them would do the same for you? When you knew none of them would care?
Sometimes you wondered why you were even here. Why do you continue to get up every day and do this, fight for the people that hate you, that give you weird stares as you walk down the street, for the people that whisper about you and call you names. Why? Why? Why?
Sometimes you wanted to run. But you knew you couldn’t. You wouldn’t make it very far on your own. Not without your mother. You’ve been completely lost without her. Hell, you’ve hardly even made it here.
But on the rare occasion, you’re reminded of why you stay. What you fight for. Who you fight for.
The little blonde boy, sitting on the steps of your apartment complex. Your ray of sunshine.
“Naruto? What are you doing here?”
He gazed up at you with his big blue eyes, beaming brightly. “Oh hey, big sis! I was wondering if you’d wanna get ramen with me or something?”
“I’m sorry, buddy. I don’t think I can tonight. I’m not really hungry.”
It was a lie. You were starving, but exhausted from the mission today, along with your time in the infirmary, and on top of that you felt extremely frustrated and upset. All you wanted to do was curl up in a ball and hide in your room for the next two days. The last thing you wanted was to take out your anger on the sweet boy, and god knows what you would do if you saw another villager openly disrespecting him.
“Oh, that’s okay! But maybe..would you happen to have any extra money? I ran out of my allowance and I have to wait until next Friday to get any more.”
Guilt panged in your chest. He was all alone, with no one to tell him right from wrong, no one to teach him, no one to take care of him, just him and a stupid fucking allowance. Of course he’d run out like this. He didn’t know how to spend his money, or what to spend it on, or how to properly take care of himself. You hated Lord Third sometimes.
You sighed softly, shaking your head at him. “What’d you spend it all on this time?’
“Well, there were these packs of ramen in the store, y’know, like- like this massive box of them with all these different flavors, and I wanted to try them all…and I may have eaten my last one this morning.”
This morning. You gazed out at the village, noticing the sun was low on the horizon. You couldn’t imagine how long it’s been since he’s eaten something that was nutritious and filling, not just some shitty microwaveable ramen.
You stepped past him, unlocking the front door to your apartment complex. “C’mon, let’s go.”
“Where?”
“Inside. I’m making you dinner, so you can have some actual food to eat.”
“Oh, okay!” You watched the boy brighten up, happy to have company, happy to have a home cooked meal. So thankful and gracious, radiant and bright.
And you remember, this is why you do it. This is why you’re here.