A flower by the flame (Self Insert)

10

"Who wants to go into town with me?!" I call out from the well. Daichi and Itama run out at the same time. When the bumped shoulders, they sent each other a dirty look before simultaneously grabbing onto both of my arms. I just sigh and begin my walk into town. The boys knew the drill about hiding our identities so they have their masks on. Itama had picked out a badger mask which suited him well with his two toned hair. He definitely had to keep is hood up or someone would recognize his hair.

I go straight to the blacksmith and clothing store but after buying what we needed, I realize I'm all out of savings. I'll need to start taking missions. "Panda, Badger, Let's go to the mission board. I've ran out of my mother's money so I hope you don't mind me being gone longer than usual from now on."

Itama shook his head. "You will never be a burden to us Rei-sama." Daichi hugs me around the waist. "Not ever!" Kami these kids are like the brothers I always wanted. I glance at the people looking at us and shrug it off as them being curious. Not every day you see a bunch of masked little people. When seeing the crowd that hangs around the billboard and clan desks again was not comforting to me. I, in my small body, will have to push past these grown and war hardened shinobi men alone because in no way am I subjecting these two babies to such abuse.

Not taking the chance of being knocked down, I turn to the two boys. "What kind of missions are usually on the board?"

Da-chan scratched behind his neck as he tilted his head. With the mask on, it was necessary for us to move certain ways to make others tell what our emotions are at the time. Everyone had their own versions of the actions such as this being Da-chan's version of contemplating. "Just chores mostly and simple escorts for traders. Clans get bigger tasks though. Assassination, escorts for lords and ladies, item collection like the one me and Kara-nii and I were on, guarding, and some other ones." Assassination for one clan while guarding from the other. That's one way to set them up.

I turn and walk into the crowd. Immediately I was lost in the sea of bodies. I had to push and shove until I stumbled out into the front. Someone grabbed my collar though and yanked me back. "Oi, kid. What do you think you're doing here huh?" The man was sun tanned with scruffy short brown hair and a hint of a beard growing. From his mouth hung a smoking pipe. I couldn't say he was young or old really. He kind of looked like a meaner version of Asuma but I'm pretty sure he isn't a Sarutobi.

"I'm trying to get paid shinobi-san. Just like you." As usual, I keep my voice flat and use chakra on my vocal cords to sound like a boy. "Please put me down." When he made no move to do so, I did what was necessary. I grabbed his index finger, absorbed his strength, and squeezed. The resonating snap of the bone was followed by the man's cry of pain. I ignore the stares and grab two posters from the board. One for hunting a certain set of animals and the other being a merchant escort.

When I turn around this time, the people stepped away from me. A feeling of guilt settled in my chest so I knelt in front of the fallen man and grabbed his hand. "I apologize for causing you pain. You wouldn't unhand me so please understand." I craft a splint with a stick and bandage around his broken finger. I don't wait for a reply. I just leave. Itama tugs on my cloak to get my attention when I passed him. "What is it?"

"You're really kind Rei-sama." He might be beaming behind that mask. I wouldn't know if not for his voice. I'm pretty sure breaking some guy's finger isn't kind. As if knowing what I was thinking, he continued. "You didn't have to give him that splint but you did." Daichi nodded in agreement on my other side as we walked home.

..............................

"Alright. Family meeting." All eyes looked to me, both feline and human. "We ran out of money that my mother left behind so we will be needing to take on missions from now on. I'll grab two per round so we can split into teams. I'm trusting you to do only two things if they come up. If there is an injured person, help them with the medical aid I have taught you. Itama and Karado are with me. Yatoka, you are the only one who knows the most of medical practices so you will lead the second mission. Kialera and Kovu will be with us too. The second thing is to never reveal your identity to our clients. Understood?"