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I woke up to yelling.

"Kushina, you have to have more then ramen!" I heard the exasperated voice of Minato sound from the kitchen... tiresome.

"What? Why? Ramen is great, dattebane ! It has everything you need meat, noodles, meat..." She began to list off the wonders of ramen before the Hokage interrupted.

"Yes, I know you love ramen, but you need more nutrition then that! Rice, chicken, sushi, I don't care, but we're not haven ramen for breakfast again! Think about the baby!"

The baby? I know they're not talking about me, so I'm going to assume that means Kushina-san is pregnant... huh, I guess that would indirectly make me an older brother figure? Seems tiresome...but, I suppose it would be nice.

"Fine, but we're having it for supper, and that's final." There was a relived sigh from Minato, and I idly wondered if this would be a common occurrence... Kimi I hope not, I am not ready to wake up to that every morning.

There was a lull in their conversation, accompanied by the clanking of kitchenware. I almost feel back into my shallow slumber until Minato spoke up once more, more subdued.

"Should we wake up Michi-kun?"

There was a brief silence before Kushina responded, "yeah, I'll go get him."

I listened to the padding of footsteps on worn wood until they paused outside my door. She must've hesitated for a moment, before opening the door with a slight creak.

I kept my eyes closed, back facing the door, slowing my breaths

"Michi-chan?" she walked up to my bed, resting a hand on my shoulder, and my eyes sprung open as a spike of panic rose in my chest, and I gripped her wrist tightly in a split-second reaction. Silver eyes met surprised violet ones, and I blinked, frowning. Slowly, I lowered his hand, mumbling a small apology.

I...don't know why I reacted like that, I knew she was coming, knew she wasn't a threat... at least I think she wasn't? Yet despite this I had grabbed her as if she were going to attack...

She smiled slightly, "It's fine Michi-chan, I'm sure your nerves are just shot with all that's happening."

A possible reason, but I didn't actually know for sure if that was it...

I'll accept it for now. Maybe the tenseness in my chest has something to do with it, or the feeling of some dark shadow looming around the corner of my future, I don't know, but something tells me that I shouldn't relax, that this wont last long.

...eh, too tiresome to think of right now, I just want to eat.

Numbly, I nodded, and slid out of the bed, following her out of the room, down the hall, before being sat down on a chair with a couple books piled on the seat so I could actually eat on the small square table.

Minato walked up with a small plate of food in one hand, and placed it before me, beaming brightly.

"Good morning Michi-kun, how was your sleep?"

My sleep? It was crappy, filled with vague images of a shadowy monster, and snippets of some pictures I don't remember ever seeing. An overactive imagination some would say, but the tightness in my chest said otherwise.

"Not the best," I muttered, voice still monotone.

The blond frowned as Kushina grabbed a large plate of the meal Minato made, sitting down, with him pulling up in the chair across from me.

"Oh, why?" he asked, out of politeness or genuine concern, I don't know.

"...nightmares." I murmured, knowing he could hear me, he wasn't Hokage for nothing I imagine.

The man grimaced, and nodded, not pushing further, while his...wife (at least I'm 99% Kushina was his wife) calmly picked up her food with chopsticks and plopped it in her mouth, though it seemed she wanted to just shove her face full of it.

He began to eat, and I stared down at my food with veiled suspicion, before grabbing my won chopsticks and testing it out. After confirming it was not poisoned, I shovelled down my food.

I, to put it bluntly, did not trust the Hokage. Despite my mother assuring me that it was safe in Konoha, I had an itching feeling that something was going to happen to disprove that.

Besides, this was a new village, new people, people I didn't know. I was not one to just blindly trust this man just because he took me in. He seems nice, yes, but masks are easy to make as you go through life.

It would take a while for me to feel fully at ease, these things take time.

There was another awkward silence between us all, well, awkward for them, I've never been a talker, never interacted with anyone past my mother, and the Kazekage. I don't waste my words.

While I was content with the silence, it seems Minato was not.

"So, why don't you tell us a bit about yourself, nothing to extreme, of course." He smiled that soft smile one that, I would hazard to guess, would be fitting of a father.

I glanced up at him with wary eyes, "...Like what?"

He shrugged, unbothered by my distrust, "Likes, dislikes, goals, that's all."

Was this some way to make a connection to me? I'm not sure, I have next to no experience in life, only knowledge given to my by Yemon and my mother.

The topics seemed harmless enough, I suppose, "I like... my mother... sushi... ah..." I frowned, "Training? I guess.... Sleep, ummm..." another pause, "Nighttime, and tea. I don't like... greedy people, idiots, the Kazekage, Suna, snobs, bright light, being woken up, and being underestimated." I hand a longer list of dislikes then likes... depressing. "My goal is to be ANBU, and to become an S-rank shinobi." I nodded thoughtfully, not completely realising that the tension in my chest had been loosened a bit while I talked.

Minato hummed in thought, "You don't like your old village leader?"

I scowled, the effect was lost though, seeing as how I still had baby fat and a childish complexion, "He forced my Kaa-san to defect from the village, made her choose to leave me here for my own safety, I despise him."

His brows rose at the statement, before he nodded, "Yes, I suppose that would drive you to dislike him." He mused on that for a moment, before moving on, "You aim to become ANBU? That's a lofty goal, you think you can make it?"

I nodded firmly, "I'll do all it takes, I need to be ready to survive in this world, ANBU will help me with that goal, survival is all I want, I'll make Kaa-san proud."

Something flickered through the Fourth Hokage's blue eyes, an emotion I couldn't identify.

"You'll be an amazing shinobi one day Michi-kun."

I blinked, oddly shocked at those words, words spoken with such sureness, one would think he saw into the future, saw a greatness I could not. Those words... gained him a sliver of my trust.

"Yeah, I'm sure you'll make it Michi-chan, dattebane!" Kushina cheered, mouth still full of food, and I couldn't help the small, shadow of a smile that rose on my face at the sight of them both and their words.

Yes, there was a chance that I might actually trust these two, one day.

"Thanks", I said, face returning to impassive.

The Hokage gave me a warm smile, while Kushina grinned.

I paused as a thought crossed my mind, "Ah... will I be getting trained for the Konoha Academy by one of you?" I tilted my head to the side once more.

Minato contemplated for a it, "Good question... as you most likely know, I'm busy most of the time... Kushina might be able to help train you, but I don't think you'd fit her style of fighting."
The redhead in question let out a grunt of confirmation, swallowing the rest of her food on her third plate, "Yeah, not the right build, and I doubt you have my level of strength."

I rose a brow, but nodded in mute agreement, I'll trust their judgment.

"I'll try and squeeze in some training for you, ok Michi-kun?" he asked, that smile still on his face.

I nodded minutely, thankful that they'd be training me.

Minato finished off the last of his food, and sighed lightly, "Well, time to get back to the office and get the old hat back on. I'll see you sometime later Michi-kun." He walked over to Kushina and pecked her on the cheek, while she smiled happily. Then, in a yellow flash, he put on the attire for the Hokage, and in another flash, was gone.

I blinked dumbly at the spot he used to be standing... that was, bright, and, admittedly, cool.

Kinda wanted to learn it, but it's too attention-grabbing for my tastes.

"Hey Michi-chan!" I jumped as Kushina appeared in front of my vision, a grin full of teeth on her face, "C-mon, Im going to show you around and introduce you to one of my friends!"

I blinked once more, looking at her in confusion, "Should we really be..."

"It's fine, 'ttebane! Minato won't mind!" she grabbed me, then held me under her arm like a sack of potatoes. I was still in slight shock at how everything had escalated from a nice talk to yelling in my face and carrying me around the village.

I blinked, snapping out of my stupor, only to realize that we were already out the door and rushing around the village.

She was jumping from roof to roof at high speeds, and I covered my mouth to keep from vomiting from the sudden movement after a heavy meal.

Suddenly, she stopped, and I glanced around in a daze.

"HEY MIKOTO!" Kushina burst through the door of someone's house, and I looked around in a panic. It looked traditional, and breakable, something Kushina shouldn't be around because there was a clan crest over there that looked like it belonged to a very important group.

At least I feel like it does, it looks familiar...

I stopped looking around when someone walked in. She had raven black hair and dark eyes and held herself elegantly despite wearing casual clothes and an apron. She radiated importance.

"Ah, Kushina, so good to see you. What brings you to the clan compound?" She asked with a soft smile. Kushina returned her smile with a blinding grin.

"I'm here to introduce you to someone," I let out a yelp as I was lifted up under my arms and held in the air like some cat, "This is Michi-chan, I'm his new guardian!"

I deadpanned... how did she go from zero to a hundred in two minutes flat?

How can anyone put emotional effort into being able to do that?

Mikoto seemed to be perfectly fine with all of this, seeing as how she just turned to me with a smile, "Nice to meet you Michi-kun, I'm Mikoto Uchiha."

I let out a sigh, accepting my fate, and gave her a lazy wave.

"He's staying with me and Minato for now." Kushina said, still smiling.

Mikoto gave her a curious look, "oh? Why?"

Kushina paused, seeming to think, before responding, "He's an orphan, we're taking him in."

The word orphan seemed to strike a chord in me, and I felt a burst of depression rise in my chest.

I... I was an orphan, wasn't I? Kaa-san is most likely going to be dead, hunted down by Suna... I had no family now, other then a distant relative I knew nothing about, who was too unstable to care for me anyways.

I swallowed thickly, banishing the thoughts from my mind... I've cried enough, I-...I need to move on, train, become a shinobi, join ANBU, make mother proud.

I just need to focus on the future, nothing else.

Glancing back up, I caught sight of Mikoto giving me a pitying look and pushed down the urge to scowl. I don't want her pity, it would help me with nothing.

"That's kind of you Kushina, I never saw you as the one to take in children."

The redhead, huffed, face immediately switching from excitement, to a deadpan, "I wasn't the one that took him in, that honour goes to Minato."

The black-haired woman chuckled, "That makes sense, he's always taken in strays."

"Hey, I resent being called a stray," I called out dryly, "Also can you put me down? My arms are going numb."

"Oh, yeah, sorry." Kushina laughed lightly in embarrassment, placing me on the floor and rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. I let out a huff, rolling my shoulders to try and get the blood flowing.

"My, my, you speak quite maturely for being so young," the Uchiha complemented, crouching down with a smile.

I didn't know a hidden village could be so kind.

Nodding, I averted my eyes from her and looked around once more.

"Yeah, Michi here is a prodigy, waste of potential, leaving him on the streets. That's why we took him in! We're planning to send him to the academy. He'll be a great shinobi." I felt a hand plop on my head, tousling my hair, and tried to fend it off, shooting her with a glare. She just grinned in amusement.

"That's great! I'm sure he'll do well." I glanced up briefly at the woman, studying her face, it was soft, and motherly, and her stomach, much like Kushina's, was swelled slightly, indicating that she was pregnant.

"How many months?" I asked abruptly, interrupting their light conversation. Mikoto looked down at me, then rested a hand on her stomach.

"Six more months." Her face was fond, gentle, a true mother. I turned to look at Kushina, who got the hint.

"Nine," she said, both excited and worried. I nodded.

"So... does that mean I'll be... an older brother? I mean, if I'm living with you and Minato-san..." I trailed off, feeling heat rise up in my cheeks. Why was I asking this?

A hand landed on my head, ruffling my white curls, and I blinked in surprise, looking up at green eyes, full of life, "Yeah, you can be the older brother Michi-kun, Dattebane!"

I froze for a moment, stunned at the reaction, then gave her a small smile. She then bent down, poking me in the chest.

"And that means, you'll take care of your younger sibling no matter what, got it?" Her voice was stern, and I only hesitated for a few moments, before nodding.

She beamed at me, "Good, you better be the best brother, got it?" I nodded, and she ruffled my hair once more, before pausing and straightening, "Hay Mikoto, where's that Itachi brat? I wanna say hello to the tyke."

Mikoto chuckled, "He's training in the back."

Kushina thanked her, then grabbed the back of my shirt, dragging me behind her as she headed to the training grounds, despite my grunted complaints. I slouched in her grip, arms crossed on my chest as I glowered at the floor, hearing Mikoto's quiet chortles of laughter at my situation.

The redhead stopped dragging me as we made it outside, the rhythmic thump of something sharp hitting wood filling the sandy clearing. Hoisting me up by the back of my collar, she set me on my feet with little effort and shoved me forward, causing me to stumble.

"Oi, Itachi, can you train this kid?" the strikes on wood stopped, and I looked up to see another child, maybe four or five years older than I was, looking down at me with cool impassiveness. I copied the cold expression with one of my own.

"Why?" his voice was stony, without feeling.

"Because I asked you to, brat, and my style of fighting wouldn't suit him," she shot back. Mikoto appeared behind her, amused smile on her face.

"Itachi, this is Michi-kun, Kushina's adopted son." She introduced, while the redhead huffed.

The boy nodded briefly to me, while I nodded back just as stiffly, with a guarded expression. I didn't trust this kid, but Kushina obviously had no problems with him.

"Ok, introductions over, training beginning," Kushina intervened. Itachi glanced at his mother for permission, to which she nodded.

"It's fine, just basic training."

He nodded again, quiet. I could live with that.

"Good," Kushina shoved me forward again, causing me to stumble once more and almost land on the boy in front of me. I shot a glower back at Kushina, and she only smirked in return, before turning around and going back into the house with Mikoto.

"...Tiresome." I sighed, giving up, before looking over at Itachi, who had moved to grab the Kunai impaled in a training post, dead center.

I admit, I was impressed. While I wasn't bad at throwing, maybe above-average even, it would take me a while to master that precision.

This training may pay off, if the black-haired boy can teach, that is.

Itachi placed them neatly on the ground a few feet away from the training post, and I took that as my que to walk towards them.

Stopping a bit away from the kunai, I glanced up at the stoic Uchiha in question.

"Throw them at the target, I want to see how far you are into training," he spoke levelly, and I shrugged, walking beside the pile and grabbing one of them in my hand, holding them as mother had taught me. Itachi nodded at my questioning glance, and I promptly threw it at the post in response.

It hit the wood with a 'thunk', and inch away from the center. I continued to throw them, one after another. Out of ten Kunai, four hit the center, three around the center, and four missing the post completely. I walked over to the post, pulling out the kunai and gathering the other ones from where they were scattered over the ground.

I walked back to his previous spot, getting ready to throw them again before I felt a hand touch my own. I jerked a bit in surprise and glanced up. Itachi was there beside me shifting my grip on the blade.

"Hold it like this, it helps with aim," he said curtly, and, reluctantly, I complied.

I was sure I was holding it right; Kaa-san had shown me how to... but I wasn't naive enough to believe she knew everything. Obviously, this grip worked for Itachi, who had hit the target dead-center with each throw, so I'd might as well try it.

I took in a deep breath and let it out. Throwing the kunai once more as my eyes locked onto the targets. More 'thunks' were heard, one after another, and once the kunai in my hand ran out, I studied the scene with a small, pleased smile.

All the kunai hit the post, six hit dead-center and the rest were close to hitting the center.

I glanced up at the Uchiha, and he nodded in slight praise. For some reason, getting praise from this stoic boy filled me with a light sensation, one usually only reserved from my mother.

Blinking in minute confusion, I shook off the feeling and walked over to the post, gathering up the kunai, walking back to Itachi, and starting again. He gave me tips, and suggestion, to which I absorbed and applied to my throwing. This went on for a few hours, and by the end, I could hit the center of the post consecutively, though not with much power, seeing as how I was one.

"Itachi, Michi-kun, take a break for a bit and eat!"

I paused mid-throw, and glanced back, seeing the kind mother of the Uchiha boy. Nodding briefly to her, I finished my throw, hearing metal burying itself in wood, and wiped a brow, which had somehow gotten dirty during the training.

Straightening, I rolled my sore shoulders and walked into the house, Itachi following behind, before I paused and glanced down at my dirty feet, which were trailing sand into the building. Frowning I glanced up at Mikoto.

"Ah," I paused, "I'm getting the floor dirty." I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly, Kaa-san had always told me to be polite to those who welcome you into their homes, trying not to trail dirt inside was one of the things I was taught to do.

"Oh, it's fine Michi-kun," she waved off, "I can clean it up."

I frowned at the answer but continued walking into the kitchen. Mikoto passing me to grab something from somewhere else in the house.

On the table were some spicy tuna bowls... the only problem was that I couldn't reach said tuna bowls because I was one, and therefore small.

Sighing, I channelled chakra to his legs, and leapt up onto the chair. Standing straight, I still had some troubles reaching the food. A pout began to form on my lip, and I glanced back, seeing Itachi watching me with a slightly surprised look on his face.

I looked back at him, confused at the reaction to my use of chakra... weren't all children able to channel chakra for this? Though, I suppose my training was pushed thanks to the Kazekage. So maybe not?

Mikoto walked in, and upon seeing me standing on the chair, she looked over at her son with a smale.

"Did you help him up?"

"...No." the surprised look was gone, replaced with a risen eyebrow, "He got up there by himself... using chakra."

Now, Mikoto looked surprised, "Oh? Michi-kun who taught you to use chakra like that?"

I stared at her blankly, though on the inside sight panic began to rise.

What was I supposed to say? That Kaa-san taught me? Only Minato-san and Kushina-san knew about her, and I wasn't sure if that was supposed to be kept a secret or not.

Finally, I spoke, "I taught myself."

There was a stretch of silence as the two Uchiha stared at me... maybe that answer wasn't normal either... though, I was hailed a genius... so maybe it wasn't far-fetched?

A smile formed on Mikoto's face, "That's quite impressive Michi-kun. I guess Kushina wasn't jesting when she said you were a prodigy."

I nodded slowly and looked back to Itachi. He was watching me silently, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. He said nothing, instead walking up to the table and getting into a chair.

I paused, then looked back at the kind woman, "Ah... I can't reach the food."

She chuckled, dark eyes glinting with mirth, "I suppose so, I'll get you something to sit on."

With that, she walked back into another part of the building, and I was left with Itachi, who, after saying a quick thanks, had begun eating.

The silence wasn't the same as the comfortable one during training. It was tense, a familiar feeling rising up in my chest, and I had to resist the urge to grab a weapon to defend myself from.... Something. Paranoia filled me, a feeling I was used to, and instinctively my senses were alert, as if an enemy could jump out at any time and attack me. I don't know where this sensation came from.

"Michi-kun, I found something," the voice of Mikoto snapped me out of my fear-induced stupor, and caused me to jump, forcing me to steady myself on the back of the chair. My head jerked around to her, and it seemed she hadn't noticed what had happened.

In her hand was a highchair... I despised highchairs, with a passion.

She set it up, while I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly wishing Kushina were here. Seeing as how Itachi had now, for some reason, become suspicious of me, and the fact that I barely knew the Uchihas... well.. my old paranoia had reared its head, and now I was back to glancing at the shadows in the corners as if they held Suna-nin who were ready to drag me back to my old village.

My whole body felt like a tightly coiled spring, and it wasn't a pleasant feeling.

Mikoto bent down so she was eye-level with me, a soft smile on her features. The expression reminded me of my Kaa-san.

"Michi-kun, do you mind if I pick you up to put you in the highchair?"

I hesitated, eyeing her warily, before hesitantly nodding.

Feeling myself get picked up gently and placed in the chair, I relaxed minutely. The tray was folded down, and the spicy tuna bowl was placed in front of me, along with some chopsticks. I looked down at the food briefly, before picking up the chopsticks and holding them in my small hands.

"Itadakimasu," I bowed my head slightly in thanks for the food, before beginning to eat. I picked at a bit of the food, testing it, for what, I didn't know, maybe the off chance that it might be poisoned?

Once the food touched my tongue though, well, it tasted heavenly. My mood lifted and I began to eat regularly, the only thing keeping me from shovelling it in my mouth was the etiquette pounded into me by Yemon.

I finished it happily, and smiled at Mikoto, "That was delicious Uchiha-san."

She smiled, "Thank you."

I nodded quietly, glancing away, "Can we head back to training now?"

She responded with a yes, and picked me up once more, placing me down on the ground. Itachi had already begun to walk out, and I soon trailed behind him.

He decided that we move on from throwing to a light taijutsu spar. I stood across from him in a stance usually made for swiftness and agility, while the raven-haired Uchiha shifted into a stance I didn't recognize.

Eyeing each other warily, the silence continued on for a bit, and, upon seeing that he wasn't planning on making the first move, I rushed towards him, and when close enough, shifted my weight onto one foot and began a roundhouse kick. The Uchiha blocked the hit, sending a punch to my exposed side. With a grunt I used the momentum from the kick and cartwheeled out of the way, pushing up with my arms so I could flip and land on my feet.

Not pausing, I ran back towards him, flipping over his head and ramming my hands into his back, to which he dodged, and reciprocated with a punch of his own.

This went on for a while longer. Mostly, I was the one who charged towards him, trying to land a few blows (Which he deflected with ease), before darting out of range again.

By the end of it, I was panting with exhaustion, while he wasn't even breaking a sweat.

This... would be a long day.

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