Heroes [Naruto]

08 : TRUST ☼

When Sasuke started getting worried about Ushio, that was when the two other members of Team Seven knew that something was wrong.

After sitting in Kakashi's room (who, after the fight, passed out from over-using his chakra) for a while, making sure apart from his exhaustion he was alright, the red haired girl walked off, sitting on the grass and ignoring all.

"You think she's okay?"

"She's awfully distant."

"Sakura, you're her best friend." Naruto turned to the pink haired girl. "Is it normal for Ushio?"

"Not at all, she hasn't been that distant ever since..." Sakura trailed off, trying to recall the  last time she had that far-away look. "Almost two years ago." She gave Sasuke a short glance, before turning to Ushio. "It isn't like her."

"She seemed to know that guy who had no eyebrows," Naruto recalled. "Do you think it's about him?"

"It has to be," Sasuke concluded, speaking up. "She stopped reacting to us just before he attacked, and only spoke with us after he attacked her specifically. And they exchanged some words we couldn't hear. He must've said something."

"I wonder what's wrong..." Sakura said, truly worried about her friend, the one that she was so protective of since she was so much younger.

"Well, I'm sure she'll be fine in a few hours!"  Naruto waved off, and after slight hesitation, the two teammates agreed, shuffling back into the house.

►

But she wasn't. She entered the room she was to share with Sakura at two in the morning, waking up before any of them, going to sit once more in Kakashi's room.

"Oh, you're here!" a woman's voice spoke. Ushio turned, smiling at Tsunami, Tazuna's daughter. "You haven't eaten lunch, dinner or breakfast!" she lectured, "you must eat!"

"I will," Ushio assured, suddenly realizing why she felt so weak.

"You know, you look a lot like a friend I used to have." Tsunami made a small talk as she fussed over Kakashi, "her eyes were green though."

"Was her name Fuko?" Ushio wondered, suddenly realizing she was in the Land of Waves, where her parents grew up. Once they found out Fuko was pregnant before they married, they took off.

"Yes, how did you--" Tsunami paused, looking the girl over. "Are you... Fuko's daughter?" Ushio nodded, looking bashful. Tsunami laughed, "oh, that's rich! How is she? Toya still makes her as happy as always? Are they living good in the Leaf?"

"Well, Mom is still working in the Hospital, as ever. She's very lovable as always, and she still smiles just by looking at dad. The love in that house is almost too much sometimes," Ushio smiled fondly at the thought of her parents. 

"And your dad?"

Ushio sighed, "he's got a new dream every day. Right now he wants a restaurant."

"Well, he was always quite a cook."

Ushio smiled, nodding. Her father was good at so many things, yet he never loved anything wholeheartedly. Well, except for his family.

Ushio found herself wondering about what her life would be if her grandparents approved of the relationship between her parents. Would she grow up to be a citizen here, who might even meet Team 7 only by chance here?

Would she be free of the weight?

Tsunami was telling Ushio old tales of her parents, when the rest of team Seven entered the room, and even though Ushio nodded and spoke with Tsunami, the same distant look in her eyes.

Ushio was on a mission, and she forgot that. She needed to get back on track, no more distractions.

No more relationships to hold her back.

He's done worse, much worse, than ignore his friends. She must do so as well.

And even though she swore her loyalty to Konohagakure years earlier, Ushio truly wondered how much simpler would it be to leave it all behind.

 ►

When Kakashi woke up, the first thing he's done was to get everyone to leave Ushio and him alone.

"What is your relation with Zabuza?"

Ushio looked at her teacher, surprised by his boldness. Her mind quickly raced. That day was a strict secret between the elders, herself, the Hokage, Zabuza, Danzo and Itachi Uchiha. She had no idea what she could tell, and what would have to remain secret.

Everything was supposed to remain a secret. But what could she tell and not face consequences? Her tongue throbbed. 

"Zabuza once entered the village, looking for Yakumi Uchiha," Ushio informed, easily masking the truth, recalling a name written on the KIA stone under the Uchiha section. "It was the day of the..." Ushio trailed off, looking hesitant, as a child would be, talking about something like a murder of a whole clan. "I told him that as a part of the village, I mustn't tell a rogue ninja as him about the whereabouts or any other information regarding both the Uchiha clan as a whole, and Yakumi Uchiha specifically. He attacked."

Kakashi's eyebrow rose in surprise. "And you managed to get out without a scratch?"

"He went easy, said he sees greatness in me that needs to be fueled by the truth and that in due time, fate will bring us back together so he could make me that great ninja. Besides, who said I wasn't hurt?"

"Fueled by the truth?"

"He said that I shall carry a scar to remind me of that day, to remind me of my future as a tool in the ninja world."

"And?"

"It's not time yet," Ushio spoke. "But fate has brought us together."

Kakashi looked at his youngest student, not liking the way her eyes lost the light, not liking the way she avoided his eyes as she spoke of the past.

"Ushio, how old were you?"

"Eight."

Kakashi's eyes widened once more. The first time she stood in front of a ninja to fight was when she was eight, when she was undoubtedly much too weak to protect herself. Suddenly, her wish to be stronger and an ANBU made a bit more sense.

 Out of war times, things like what Ushio's been through seemed unacceptable to him. Moreover, an eight years old of these days meant a girl that's never seen an intended wound before-- he wasn't sure if they were too soft, or if this world was too horrible.

She hated the way it turned out, that much was clear.

"STOP IT NARUTO!" Sakura's voice suddenly called, and the two heard loud footsteps echoing just outside.

"OW! SAKURA, STOP HITTING ME! IT HURTS!" Naruto ran into the room, hiding behind Kakashi. "Kakashi, make her stop! She's hurting me!"

"Sakura, quit it," Kakashi sighed. "Sit down, you two. Ushio, please call Sasuke over."

"Yes sir," Ushio said simply, standing up and leaving the room, slowly walking down to the living room. "Sasuke?" she called, making the raven haired boy turn to her, his onyx eyes measuring her. "Kakashi is calling all of us."

"He's done privately discussing his business with you?" Sasuke said bitterly, hoping to annoy.

"No, but we kept you kids waiting for far too long." Sasuke gave her an annoyed look, to which she replied with a smug smirk, before her facial features went blank once more.

Tazuna and Tsunami were there by the time the two returned.

Kakashi raised his eyes to the two, "sit down, we've got to discuss something."

WORD COUNT: 1225.

EDITED