The Singer's Tale

4 | You're Responsible For Me

4 | You're Responsible For Me

"Hello young one. I hope my ninja weren't too rough with you?" The Hokage walked past Atsu to sit in front of her on the bed, tilting his head up slightly to see her from under the edge of his wide-brimmed hat.

Atsu stared at him silently, before shaking her head gently, "No." The two watched each other for a moment, until the Hokage broke into a gentle, close-eyed smile.

"Well... From what I can gather, you've been living in the forest surrounding this village up until now, correct?" Atsu nodded curtly, "And you came to the village to return this bento box to our young Shikamaru Nara, correct?"

Another nod, "Well, I see no harm in this. Why don't we go and meet him now, then? I can imagine he's been missing this!" Atsu's eyes widened in shock as she watched the Hokage, who looked up over Atsu's head and nodded. Suddenly the ropes restraining her were loosened and removed.

"O-okay..." Atsu stood up slowly from her chair and followed the Hokage hesitantly, walking a few steps behind him. The masked ninja walked on either side of Atsu, while Kakashi walked right behind her, "Do you mind? Your breathing right on my head, creep." Atsu exclaimed, turning her head to glare at Kakashi as she hurried to walk closer to the Hokage.

"Well maybe if you weren't so slow and short-"

"I'm not slow or short! You're just fast and tall!"

"You're literally just saying the same thing I'm saying but reversing it."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too!"

"Kakashi." The Hokage exclaimed, turning his to side-glance the Jōnin, "Are we arguing with children, now?"

Kakashi huffed childishly, looking to the side as he pouted through his mask, "She started it."

"She's a child." The Hokage chuckled before looking ahead once more, just in time to miss the cool, stinking grin I gave Kakashi. He merely glared in response.

"Your name is Atsu, correct?" The Hokage spoke, glancing down at the young girl as they neared the exit of the hospital.

"Yes."

A small silence permeated before Sarutobi cleared his throat, pressing his enclosed fist to his lips, "Well. My name is Hiruzen Sarutobi. My position in the village is Hokage, meaning I take care of everyone in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. I'm the third Hokage this village has ever had."

Atsu nodded slowly, already knowing this as her Shika-sensei was always good at educating her on the village. Seemingly so she didn't go into it. Speaking of which... Why was he acting so weird that day? Why'd he say those things? He really hurt my feelings, and then didn't even bother to come back and apologize! Maybe the answer is here, with all these weird men?

She diligently followed Sarutobi out of the hospital and into the bustling village streets, the three ninja stilly following closely after them. What Atsu didn't expect, were the loud sounds of haggling, food cooking, conversation, running, every sound that seemed available under the sun was here. She cringed, cupping both ears with her small hands as she struggled to keep the noises from blasting into her brain and making her insides explode. Or at least, thats what felt like would happen.

"It's– so loud!" Atsu said airily, her breathe faltering as she squeezed her eyes shut and her legs froze in place at the entrance of the hospital, "I don't wanna go! It hurts." She whispered loud enough to be audible as she slowly backed up into Kakashi.