namikaze girl ! k. hatake

one.

"is that your decision? is that what you want?"

i glared across the table towards the aged man, my fingertips digging into the stained wood as anger and uncertainty exhausted my mind. my cheeks were wet and hot as i sobbed before the seemingly calm old man. i bowed my head, itching to do something of relevance before it would be too late.

"he's a weapon; he'll be treated accordingly -"

"shut up," i winced, forcing the words out as the stabbing sensation in my throat quickly spread to my chest. i didn't want to cry, though, given the circumstances, i felt as though i had no choice. "my father - the rightful hokage - wanted me to protect him. . . i'm not going to let you treat him like he's a monster. . . he's a baby!"

"the nine-tails is what threatened konoha. it's also what brought death to you family; i'm surprised you feel so strongly," his words swirled in my head, nearly coming to deaf ears as i tried to stop crying. i couldn't breathe; an infant brother with the spirit of a monster sealed within him was certainly going to ravage the remainder of his life, as well as danzo, who had the nerve to sit across the table and tell me he is a weapon of war, unable to match the prophecy of minato namikaze. horrible people with even worse intent were expected to come for him, and soon, as to build their military power with that of the nine-tailed beast.

i breathed hard, lifting a sore hand to wipe the stream of tears running down my cheeks as the news of my parents death still littered my mind like a virus. i was quickly being overcome with responsibilities that i had never expected to take; a child, a beast, and a seemingly unforgiving village of people that would rather cower from an infant before accepting that naruto would ever be able to control the sealed monster.

naruto - such a unique and beautiful name.

slowly lifting my reddened head towards the somewhat cocky smirk of danzo, my bloodshot eyes narrowed towards the unbothered old man with a fierce i had definitely inherited from my mother.

"minato understood what he was doing; whether you do or not doesn't concern me. . . but, since you don't seem to take initiative to protect him, then i will."

"you're abandoning orders?" his question was short and simple, but only infuriated me more as the old man cowered from the inevitable evil to come from this; lock naruto in the village to protect his precious weapon was too uncomfortable for me to bare.

"no. . . being a ninja isn't all about orders," i stated, glaring across at the blank expression on his face as my hand inched towards the samurai on my back, wanting nothing more than to dispose of the problems directly effecting my own blood. "you wouldn't understand what it's about."

"so, you wish to kill me, is that it?" he asked, returning a glare towards me after eyeing my movements. my hand stopped, millimeters from the handle of the sword as i knew killing him would only encourage more hatred to the uzumaki name. i was unsure, but i assumed that so little as threatening to kill him was enough to be labeled as rogue.

"no. . . not yet," i stated, standing up straight as my hand fell back to my side, taking the short moment to try and memorize the details of the hokage's office i stood inside, uncertain if i would ever do so again. "if you so much as touch him, or attempt to carry out these ridiculous plots, then i will. . . i don't care what's underneath those bandages; i will kill you."

"for being so concerned about your family, you don't seem so hesitant in bringing dishonor to the name."

i felt heat rise against my skin, anger threatening my eyes as tears began spilling once more, rolling down my cheeks and onto the table before me. as much as i dreamt of danzo eating his words, my own doubts questioned my choices; my only solution in this strange situation was to leave, to protect naruto and reclaim what our father hoped for. even with him being an uzumaki whilst i carried the namikaze legacy, we shared the same blood, the same in all aspects. i only had to hold him once to know that what i was doing was right; father had more in store for him - for both of us - than what i had expected. i would kill and die for him, anytime and any place. the strong, natural bond brought about the message in such a clear, yet indescribable fashion. the only hatred in my heart stood for danzo, seemingly growing impatient as i had yet to leave.