Wildflower Book 1 | Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter98: Smiles And All

"Are you two alright?"

"Yes.", Tama answered too quickly. Too coldly. Tamaki sighed but said nothing. However the gloom in his usually bright eyes said more than enough. Kakashi quickly concluded that this was one of their couple issues, but he couldn't be more wrong.

"Alright then. So, what did you find?", he asked, passing a quick look around the room that was given to the girl. It was nice. Clean and spacious. Tama was a pretty clean person, herself, so it only matched her well. It was just missing a whole bunch of dangerous weapons and scrolls.

"I've narrowed my suspicions down to five men.", Tamaki said, still seeming troubled. Tama said nothing as she listened, looking more serious than usual. Something was definitely wrong here.

"And?", Kakashi asked. The younger man cleared his throat. He was tired, from something he was shown by his clone back in Konoha. He was worried about Tama, but every time he looked at her she refused to meet his gaze. She didn't seem to feel betrayed as she aught; like she expected Itachi to do what he did. In fact, it seemed his presence and actions did not bother her one bit.

"And Tama-san will have to get closer to them. Mingle with them in passing, show them some sort of enticing attention and draw them to yourself.", he said. She nodded, her gaze stuck on the door, expectant. Shisui looked in that direction, in spite of his own play at subtlety. Kakashi's gaze shot between the two of them, now suspicious.

Shisui wondered just what had happened for her to get trapped the way she she was. Although she was doing well without him, it was just painful what happened to her in his absence. Even as she lay limp over his shoulder he couldn't stop muttering an apology for not being there every few minutes.

"I see.", she said softly. However, this wasn't her usual, coy kind of soft tone, and her eyes lacked that mischievous glint they always had. It was pained, like a cry for help after a little girl got bullied, on the brink of tears. However, on her end she was simply contemplative; lost deep in thought and partially absent from the present moment.

"Tama-san?", Kakashi called. She looked up at him and instead saw Minato, she shut her eyes and a young, sweet Obito peered at her, curious and innocent.

She was three years old, with mochi in her hand that he had given her. He watched, excited, as she took a bite. His eyes glistening as she blushed in delight, he raised a fist in triumph.

"I made it myself!", he called, victorious. Nearby, Minato chuckled, and Rin giggled. Kakashi huffed, annoyed. Tama beamed as much as her little cheeks would allow, delightful.

"We should make some together one day!", she giggled. Obito nodded in agreement, kneeling down and ruffling her long, straight, black hair.

"I promise."

Then, two days later they left for Kannabi bridge. Then, she never saw him again.

She kept her eyes closed, fighting back the urge to punch something or tear something apart. A hand landed on her left hand, and another on her right forearm. She opened her eyes, and she saw Kakashi, and tears stung her eyes. He saw her gaze darken and she looked away.

"Tama-san?", he asked again. She took in a deep breath and smiled an unsettling smile.

"It's getting stuffy in here.", she said softly, rising to go and sit by a window. The two men shared a look; one wondering why her chakra just surged the way it did, and the other feeling absolutely hopeless.

...

The next day, life went on as if nothing had happened. As was the nature of the shinobi life. She was miss Nanako again, and they were her bodyguards that she trusted with her life. Today, she played Konpira Fune Fune with the Daimyō's youngest daughter; a little girl barely seven years of age. Her caretaker watched Nanako curiously.