Previously on Finding My Way

"H-hey wait! Akamaru!"

"Tamed? Never. Ru isn't one to be tamed. But he's a good tiger."

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and I'm going to be Hokage, one day, dattebayo!"

"I have a clan?!"

"That's what friends do, right?"

"Yup! Friends, dattebayo!"

Now [Chapter 11 : Finding Reason ]

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"I'm home."

Kakashi hummed, tilting his head back over the couch's arm to catch a glimpse of his ward, eye smiling as she caught sight of him.

"Hm~ Welcome back, Yasuko. How was the Academy? No trouble?" The jōnin hummed as he went back to reading his book, though there was hidden steel in his voice that didn't go unnoticed by the young ninja in training.

Yasuko's smile was weak but brightened at the thought of the new friends she had made today.

"I made some new friends! Even Ru liked them!"

Kakashi's brow quirked as she glanced over the white tiger, nearly wincing as he recalled all the times he had been on the predator's wrong side. He was quite protective of Yasuko, so it was surprising that he actually approved of anyone.

"Oh, really and who are they-" Kakashi nearly cut himself off as his head snapped up as Yasuko passed.

This sudden reaction was unnoticed by the Uchiha as she made her way into the kitchen in search of a snack as she began ranting about her new friends. Kakashi didn't mean to tune out her words, but all his senses were focused on the strange scent lingering on his ward. He frowned as he made his way closer, careful not to gain her attention and tentatively began sniffing her.

His visible eye widened as he realized just what caught his attention. Someone -an Inuzuka most likely- had scented her! It was subtle, probably hadn't had the time or chance to properly scent her, but it was present none the less. One part of him was amused at the claim, while the more primal part of him was growling and seeking blood. How dare someone lay claim on his pup!

"-Naruto-nii was really mad when Shika and I admitted to never having Ichiraku Ramen! He insisted it was against the Ramen gods." Yasuko laughed.

Kakashi cleared his head and reigned back his primal urges as he focused again on Yasuko.

"Naruto? As in Uzumaki Naruto?"

Yasuko looked over her shoulder, tilting her head as she looked him over in concern.

"I just told you, Kakashi-oji. Uzumaki Naruto, Inuzuka Kiba and his ninkin Akamaru are my new friends. Are you alright?"

Kakashi waved his hand as if to placate her worries. "Ma ma~ I'm fine, Yasuko. Now, tell me more about your friends."

Yasuko gave him one more concerned run over before continuing with her rant, eyes bright and body bouncing much like the exited child, her countenance now matching her physical appearance.

"And his chakra! It's so warm~" Yasuko's eyes closed as she hugged herself, a near high expression on her face as she recalled Naruto's chakra.

Kakashi's interest perked as he surveyed Yasuko. With enough training, chakra signatures were quite easy to recognize and track. But the way Yasuko was describing and her expression-

'Is she a sensor?'

"Warm?" He needed to confirm his theory. If Yasuko continued to describe Naruto's chakra to him, he should be able to do so and grasp how chakra sensitive she was.

Yasuko nodded eagerly. "It felt like the sun! But it was always moving like- like a whirlpool or something!"

That confirms it. Yasuko was definitely a sensor. She could even sense the boy's primary chakra nature if the description was anything to go by. 'Wind nature huh... he's more like his father than I thought.' Kakashi thought.

"But... there's something dark too." Yasuko frowned, trying to recall that brush of chakra that was entwined with Naruto's. "It felt... angry?"

This alarmed the jōnin. 'She couldn't have- the Kyuubi?!'

"It was angry, but I don't think it would hurt me." Her hand reached up to press against her chest -more specifically atop her heart. "It was familiar in a way."

Kakashi frowned behind his mask. Yasuko hadn't been born when the Kyuubi attacked Konoha. So how could it's chakra be familiar to her? His eyes trailed down to stare at the hand Yasuko was resting against her chest. The exact location where the chakra anomaly was located.

'Could the Hokage's theory be correct. Is Yasuko a jinchuriki too?'

"Well, I'm sure it's nothing, Yasuko. Now, why don't we go out for dinner? We haven't been to Yakinuku Q yet, right?"

Yasuko nodded, shutting the cabinet she had been searching.

"Can we buy groceries too? It's not healthy to keep eating out, Kakashi-oji." Yasuko scolded lightly.

Kakashi chuckled and picked her up, ignoring her squeak of protest as he nuzzled her playfully. "Already taking over the household, huh pup?"

Yasuko's protests were cut off as she blinked in confusion. Her head tilted as she stared at her guardian curiously. "Pup?"

Kakashi eye smiled and nodded. "Pup," He confirmed, nuzzling her once more, the tension he didn't realize he had relaxed as the Inuzuka's scenting was overpowered by his own. "Now, let's go. I have something to show you after." Seeing her curious look, he shook his head, though inwardly he was relieved that Yasuko was returning to her usual self, "And no, you will have to wait."

Yasuko pouted but said anything as she grumbled, resting her head against the jōnin's shoulder. Kakashi's face softened beneath the mask, closing his eyes to savour the rare moment of peace. It's been so long he had nearly forgotten what this feeling was like. There was no doubt about it. Yasuko was his pack now.

Despite the grievances the encounter with Sasuke had brought his ward, Kakashi couldn't help but be rather thankful. 'Cause now, Yasuko was allowing herself the comfort she so desperately needed. Allowing herself to be the child, she never had the chance to be. She depended more and more on him, and his Hatake blood howled in triumph at the apparent affection from his pup. Kakashi wouldn't change anything. In the end, he was a shinobi and shinobi were terribly possessive and selfish to those they deem theirs.

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"Where are we going, Kakashi-oji?" Yasuko inquired, eyes looking around warily yet full of curiosity as she was lead away from the bustling crowds of the village.

"Hokage-sama gave me permission to bring you here."

Yasuko frowned, not understanding until she saw a gate, a familiar symbol carved into the wood. Her eyes widened, stuck on the fading colours of the Uchiwa fan.

"Is this...."

Kakashi's eyes were soft as he gently led her past the gate, moving pass rows of stones towards one situated under the shade of a sakura tree.

Yasuko's hand clenched on her guardian's as she read the name engraved on the headstone.

Uchiha Haruka

April 1, XXXX - March 14, XXXX

FAMILY

Where life begins

and

love never ends

"Mama..."

Kakashi nodded, squeezing her hand in comfort, letting go to allow her a moment with her mother. Yasuko sniffed, kneeling down to brush her fingers over her mother's name. She smiled sadly, eyes glazed with tears.

"Hi, Mama!" Yasuko whispered, "You probably already know who I am! But it's been a long time, and I'm a lot bigger now, so I'll introduce myself. I'm Uchiha Yasuko! I like dango, training and playing with Ru-kun! Oh yeah," patting the ground next to her, she motioned her partner to come closer, "This is my friend Mamoru, but I call him Ru-kun!" Yasuko laughed as Ru swiped her cheek with her tongue before dropping his head on her laugh. Her eyes were soft as she ran her fingers through his fur.

"I've learned a lot from the scrolls you left with Papa. I think I've really gotten far with them." Yasuko explained, keeping the information vague as possible, knowing she was still under watch. "I even know how to to the great fireball jutsu now! Papa told me I did much better than your first attempts. Did you really set a tree on fire?" Yasuko laughed.

Kakashi watched fondly as Yasuko retold all the stories Itachi had told her about Haruka. He frowned when she saw her tense, head whipping towards the entrance of the clan grave. His eyes widened minutely when he caught sight of a raven-haired boy, his eyes snapping to the ANBU he knew were on watch.

Sasuke's eyes flared with anger when he realized who had trespassed onto Uchiha grounds.

"What is she doing here?"

Yasuko stepped back, stumbling behind her guardian, who held a hand out protectively. Kakashi's form was seemingly relaxed, his posture slouched, but he gazed at the Uchiha survivor with calculative eyes.

"Ma ma~ Uchiha-kun. No need to be hostile. We're just visiting family."

"SHE'S NOT FAMILY!" Sasuke spat out.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed, Ru stepping around to growl at the boy. Sasuke glanced at the tiger warily but remained in place, anger reigning him. Yasuko whimpered, pressing herself to her guardian's back.

"Think about what you just said, Uchiha. She had done no wrong. Yasuko is not her father. If anything, she is her mother's daughter." With those words, Kakashi pulled Yasuko into his arms and shushined away.

Sasuke growled as the trio disappeared. He glared at the ground, moving to take care of the graves like he has always done since the massacre. He prayed momentarily in front of his parents' grave. As he moved to leave, he frowned, eyes trailing to the grave the trio were visiting. Moving to pass the graves, his eyes widened when he read the engraving on the stone. One he hadn't visited in years.

"Haruka-nee?"

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A/N Who's going to a BTS concert? Map of the Soul - TOUR

UPDATED: 05/03/20

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Next time on Finding My Way

"MY RIVAL!"

"Ano... it's nice to meet you?"

"Oh, are you lost?"

"My pup!"

[Chapter 12: Little Duckling]