"What..?!"

The Hokage winced at Chifumi's children's shrill voices. The twins gave him scathing glares and if he were someone else, he might have found them adorable no matter how much they tried to appear threatening. However, this matter failed to be a casual one because Chifumi had been ordered to go back into active duty.

"You can't just do that!" The boy, Chigusa, exclaimed with indignation, stomping his foot in response. "Kaa-chan already retired, didn't she?! You can't just order her to go back like that!" Hiruzen knew that this three-year-old had a point but his argument held no weight compared to the needs of their village.

A few years ago, Hiruzen accepted Chifumi's request for retirement wholeheartedly but they found themselves in circumstances that required the woman's specialization. "Kaa-chan," he turned to his mother, who had been silent since the twin's arrival (rather, Chigusa barged into his office with little Chiha in tow). "You're just going to accept that?"

Heartbreaking as it may be, the situation gave him no choice but to pull Chifumi back in active roster. "Chigusa, this ain't about whether or not the Hokage ordered me to come back but about the safety of our village." The boy looked like he was about to cut in but Chifumi kept on. "And in addition, your safety."

That shut him up and Hiruzen turned his eyes on the other child, who had been listening in instead of arguing like her brother had been doing this whole time. Chifumi then glanced at her daughter, the simple action making Chiha flinch in surprise. "Chiha, take your brother home or even stay at the Hatake's. I might be gone for a while."

Gone was the woman who played around, the Jounin who goofed around. She knew the direness of the situation and it left her no room to act immature. From the looks of it, Chiha seemed to have a better grasp on the matters compared to her brother, Hiruzen noted in interest. "... yes, Kaa-chan." Chigusa gave his sister a defeated look then at their mother before slouching in resignation.

Hiruzen, for the first time since the twins barged in, showed a small smile. "Do not worry, I assure you that Chifumi will come back safe and sound." The eldest of the two gave him a suspicious look, a scowl marring his young face. "Yah, don't say words you don't mean, old man." Chifumi twitched and proceeded to smack her son on the head.

"Show some respect, Chigusa!"

"But... But Kaa-chan!"

Before the two could make more ruckus, the only calm Shiratori in his office stepped up, making Hiruzen pause and Chiha's family stop. Sarutobi Hiruzen, prior to meeting the Shiratori twins, had already taken interest in this young girl. Her odd color eyes captured his attention and inquired the reason behind them with her mother. Chifumi, reluctantly might he add, informed him of her family's bloodline limit.

Never knowing that tidbit of information, Chifumi astounded him with how it works but that could be explained next time as Chiha started talking. "Promise Kaa-chan would come back okay?" Chifumi relaxed and the Hokage's tight-lipped smile softened at her question. "I give you my word." Hiruzen lied through his teeth and he knew Chifumi knows that.

The long-term mission she had taken up was far from safe but if it would keep her kids from freaking out, Hiruzen was ready to lie. "That's good enough for me then."

"Wh... Yahhhhh, Chi-chan! That old man is probably lying! Don't just believe what he says!" He watched as Chiha grabbed her brother's wrist and dragged him to the door, the eldest twin protesting and struggling but not putting in the effort of freeing himself from her hold. "Chi-kun, let's go. We still have to pack and head to Kashi's for who knows how long."

She reached for the doorknob, ignoring her brother's adamant protests, and turned bwck to give Chifumi a smile. "Don't take too long, Kaa-chan!"

"You know I won't!"

As Chiha dragged her brother away, Hiruzen gave Chifumi an amused stare. It caused the woman to laugh in embarrassment. "They take after me more than I thought they would. Sorry 'bout that, Hokage-sama." Hiruzen chuckled and waved off her concerns since their appearance did, somewhat, livened the mood.

"Nonsense, they inherited your good traits from what I have seen, Chifumi." The compliment was a spur of the moment; the children amusing him more than he thought in such a grave time. "But for now, I ask for Crow's full cooperation." Whatever carefree atmosphere that had plagued his office, it vanished in a moment's notice as Crow grimaced in front of him.

"This serious, huh?" It was more of a rhetorical question but Hiruzen nodded still. "Your field of expertise is much needed in the coming days. Are you up for the task?" Useless and unneeded question but it solidified the fact that whatever hole Konoha digged up for itself; it was deep enough to need all manpower it could get.

Crow nodded and knelt down in front of him, sliding on the plain white mask on her belt. "By your orders, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen wasn't looking forward to the near future.

.

"What are you guys doing here, exactly?"

In front the Hatake household, Chiha and Chigusa arrived, both carrying a backpack each. Kakashi was not amused as Chiha smiled at him while Chigusa scowled in vehemence. "I'm not happy with this either, Bakashi." Chiha elbowed her twin. "Be nice, Chi-kun. We're spending whoever knows how long with Kashi, after all!"

Hatake Kakashi was odd for a child. He acted far more mature than his peers. Despite that, he still have some childish tendencies and it showed when he dropped the blunt kunai from his hold and shut the door on them. "Yah! What the heck was that for, Bakashi?!" Staying here? Whoever knows how long?! What kind of idiot would let those two idiots stay here of all places?!

(Behind the mask, Chifumi sneezed in silence.)

"Open the door before we go through the windows, Kashi." Kakashi scowled and slammed the door open, noticing the smile on Chiha's fce and the same annoyed look on Chigusa's. "What are you even doing here? Rather, why are you staying here?"Chigusa bumped his shoulder with his as the idiot walked in. "Not our choice." Kakashi felt the urge to push that idiot out because idiocy was contagious and that idiot infected Chiha of all people. He wasn't about to get infected, too. "We could have stayed at home but nooooo, Chi-chan wants to stay with you."

He scoffed at Chigusa's words, not arguing anymore as the twins made themselves comfortable on the couch. "What's so great about you anyway?" Kakashi ignored him and picked up his discarded kunai. He headed for his backyard where he had been practicing when the idiot twins interrupted him. "Chi-kun, c'mon, stop antgonizing him."

Kakashi left them there in the living room. He didn't understand how Chiha could handle her own idiot of a twin brother. Kakashi just found him so... irritating and childish and stupid. Unlike Chiha, he barely acknowledged her brother because he didn't act like a ninja. Chigusa said he wanted to be a ninja?

Please, with his attitude, that idiot wouldn't go far and die before he even becomes Chūnin. Chiha may have instances when she acted like a child but Kakashi knew better. That look in her eyes said otherwise. The only reason he kept his acquaintanceship with her was because she knew what it meant to be a ninja.

Chiha took things seriously when it matters. She didn't join the games of ninja that other kids their age played unlike her brother who insisted that she played with him. She always followed Chigusa's lead but Kakashi knew better. She only did things because that idiot asked it of her.

If it were up to Chiha, Kakashi knew for sure that she'd rather read those books about seals that she'd been obsessed with for some time. They weren't friends but they were acquaintances and Kakashi acknowledged Chiha because she deserved it. "Kashi?"

He finished his last set of katas before facing her. "Chi-kun's taking a nap. Do you mind if I raid your fridge a bit?" It was that sheepish smile on her face that he sometimes reevaluates his opinion of her. Sometimes, it appeared as if there were two sides of her but Kakashi couldn't pinpoint the obvious why. From what he knows, that kind of thing becomes a thing when someone goes through stressful stuff.

One that someone cannot cope with.

Or when someone was hiding something.

Kakashi failed to reason out which one Chiha falls under.

Was he thinking nonsense or was it too much? He couldn't really tell what his thoughts are right now. It seemed like a jumble of words that didn't make sense at all.

"The idiot must be rubbing off on me..." he muttered in distress.

A few hours into the night, Sakumo arrived after his debriefing in the Admission's Office. The moment he opened his front foor, the sight that greeted him left him exsperated.

Several plates stacked on each other occupied the kitchen table, three empty glasses that seemed to have had orange juice laid around the dirty dishes, the table was clean for the most part except for a few stains taht looked like it wouldn't go away any time soon. Sakumo began to wonder if he has to restock for the third time this week and it hadn't even been two days since the last time he went out for groceries.

Walking in deeper into his house, he headed for his son's room and wished he had a camera just for this moment. How Chiha-chan and Chigusa-kun managed to persuade his son to build a pillow fort, he would never know. In addition to that, Sakumo didn't know how Chiha-chan managed to get his son and her brother to sleep in the same room and in the same bed.

What do you know? Some things aren't impossible.

Closing the door as quiet as possible, he began picking up the stack of dishes from the table that he would probably do in the morning. Mah, I'm sure one of the kids would volunteer. By kids, he meant Chiha-chan. Sakumo wondered why the twins were here though. It didn't surprise him since Chiha-chan was fond of sleepovers where she often drags both her brother and Kakashi into it. This was the first time they slept over without some kind of heads up though.

Before he could ponder on it more, a familiar crow landed on the window sill just in front of him by the sink. She knocked on the glass with her beak and he slid the window in haste. "Sakumo-sama, Chifumi-sama has ordered me to give you this letter." She turned around and showed him the small-sized scroll on her pack. Once he grabbed it, the summon disappeared in a puff of smoke before he could even ask her anything.

What's going on, Fumi? Sakumo rolled the scroll open and began reading the letter meant for him.

Yo, Momo

The urge to facepalm grew strong at those words. Why must she use that godforsaken nickname?!

I'm leaving my brats to you. If you haven't heard from them, I'm back on active duty not long ago. Hokage-sama gave me a mission and I accepted.

His breath hitched to a stop. Chifumi had her reasons for retiring...why would she accept that?!

It's... long-term and I don't know when I'll be back. Make sure my brats eat or else, I'll send a shadow clone to beat you and get rid of that stick up your ass once and for all.

Sakumo snorted at that empty threat but frowned at the words long-term. How long would she be gone then? What about her kids?

I know, I know, you're busy, too. I could have left them with that chibi or Kushina but as much as I hate to say it, you're the one I trust most. Quit with that snorting, I know you're getting a kick out of this but I mean it. I don't know how long I'm gonna be gone. Hokage-sama specifically needed the skills I have for this very mission. I still haven't gotten all specifics from him and I'm not really allowed to say anything more even if I sent this via summon. Chiha and Chigusa... they're gonna need someone while I'm not there to keep them straight. More like Chigusa. Especially that brat. Chiha's responsible so I know you wouldn't have any problems with her. I'm pretty sure she's gonna keep your brat and mine in line if you're not there either. Ha! I have the best kid, sucks to be 'ya, Momo!

He rolled his eyes at her childishness. Even when she had her children, her immaturity knew no bounds at all. Still, Sakumo was glad. They had been through tough times and he had almost lost Fumi thrice.

Things might... not go exactly as I want it to be. I might go back to the village maybe once a year and stay a week at most. This... mission ain't normal, it ain't feel right but if it's for the safety of our village, for our children, who am I to deny, right? I'm robbing my brats of a normal childhood... they're practically orphans with how much I could stay there. So, Sakumo,..

His eyebrows furrowed. It had been years since she last called him by name. Not since they graduated from the Academy.

... take care of my brats, yah? There ain't no certainty in my mission. I might not even come back until I'm done. I'm pretty sure those two suspected something, more Chigusa than Chiha, surprisingly. Look out for them. If... If I don't come back at all, I have a few things sealed up in my old hitai-ate. Give it to them, will you?

It's not much, I know, but take care, Sakumo.

Almost instantly, Sakumo loosened his hitai-ate and found the seal etched at the back of the metal plate. Once from a mission, he had lost his own and became collateral damage. He never did get it back since it was deformed and barely recognizable. Fumi had given him hers at the time because he felt uncomfortable with how much people could see of his face.

It might have been just the forehead but still. It wasn't until recently that he discarded his mask.

"Honestly," he muttered in defeat as he leaned against the sink. "You're still the same martyr I know."

.

.

Almost a year and yet, still no sign of her.

I knew I shouldn't have just agreed and should have put up more of a resistance with Chigusa when Kaa-chan was ordered back to active duty. I never knew what her reasons were for retiring so early when Sakumo-sama was still up and going. To keep myself and Chigusa occupied, Sakumo-sama offered to train us alongside Kashi.

Which inevitably lead to my brother challenging my friend at every turn. Kashi was way ahead of us by leaps and bounds and he was a prodigious child from what I gather. He picked up things fast, unlike me and Chigusa who needed a couple of days at least and several weeks at most to even master the chakra control exercises Sakumo-sama taught us.

Chigusa's temper worsened every time Kashi taunted him and sometimes, my friend used me to irate my own brother. Honestly, what had Kashi done to incur my twin's wrath? "Chi-kun, that's enough. You're gonna exhaust yourself." I worried over him. Weeks and still we hadn't mastered that Leaf Exercise; granted, we were making several leaves stick to us on different parts of our body.

I had long stopped before I get chakra exhaustion but Chigusa kept on going as if he thought his reserves were ginormous... which were not. "Yah! I gotta show Bakashi that I'm better at this than him. I am so gonna wipe that smug look on his face. Just he wait!" He proudly declared before four leaves glided with the breeze, leaving only the leaf on his forehead and forearm.

"Yahhh! Why can't I get this right?!" I watched with a frown as he picked up his leaves before deciding to stop him for now. "Chi-kun, I don't think it's a good idea if you get chakra exhaustion. Remember what Kaa-chan said?" The way he tensed up and scowled at the mention of her surprised me.

"I don't care what she said. She should'a been here in the first place!" The first few weeks without her were spent with training to distract ourselves until it reached the point when Chigusa snapped and declared how he hated her for abandoning us. I didn't think she did. I mean, Kaa-chan didn't have any reason to. She loved us.

More than I could imagine.

Chigusa had other ideas though. He believed that she abandoned us and dropped us of with the Hatake's just to spite us and Sakumo-sama. I don't really know what goes through his head but Chigusa definitely worried me. The first time he snapped, I reasoned with him but I failed rather spectacularly and didn't try any more after that.

My brother was stubborn and if he was stubborn, he refused to listen with reasons and theorized his own opinions of the whys. He even vented when shishou (pretty-nee-chan insisted I call her that from now) picked me up for calligraphy lessons, him tagging along even though he's disinclined to spend time around my shishou.

It spoke volumes of his hardheadedness and I got the feeling that I would be nursing a lot more migraine when dealing with him and on occasion, Kashi. The both of them were a terror and it made me wonder which parent managed to pass down their idiocy to my brother. Chigusa could be reasonable... maybe once in a month?

"Stupid Kaa-chan leaving us with Bakashi of all people." No matter how much he complained, I was certain that he didn't mind staying with the Hatakes at all. Currently, we were at the park we frequent at. Chigusa still kept on spying on the Academy students even when Sakumo-sama guaranteed our admission in a few month's time.

Four years of age might have been too young but circumstances lead to earlier education of the ninja arts compared to what I vaguely remembered from Before. One of the main reasons why Chigusa practiced nonstop was because of that and the other reason was to spite Kashi and take the title of Rookie of the Year. "Stop muttering, Chi-kun. You have to get home though. It's your turn to do chores."

At this, he groaned. Kashi and I agreed to take on rotations for the household chores because we would be staying there in an indeterminate amount of time. Today was Chigusa's turn. "You? Why just me? Where are you going, Chi-chan? " Brushing off the last leaf on his forehead, I left my place on the bottom of the slide and took his hand.

"I have lessons with shishou today, remember?"

This earned me another groan from my brother. "Yah, do you have to? I don't wanna deal with Bakashi alone." I rolled my eyes as we departed from our usual hangout place to head to shishou's apartment. It was on the way to the Hatake household and Chigusa refused to let me walk on my own even though shishou's place was on the way.

"Of course I have to, I want to learn fūinjutsu, after all!"

"You're still on about that?" Chigusa gave me a look of disbelief. "Didn't Kushina-san say you can't write past that barely legible of a chicken scratch you call your handwriting?"

"You don't have to put it that way, Chi-kun!" I pouted and pulled my hand away, making him panic. It was cute, seeing him all flustered even though I'm just messing with him. Hehe...

"Sorry, sorry! I just— you know—? Oh nevermind, you're such a handful, Chi-chan." His defeated sigh made me giggle before I decided to hold hands with him again. "I know!" Chigusa tightened his grip around my admittedly smaller hands. "I know you love me too much to insult my penmanship, Chi-kun!" He rolled his eyes at me, making my laughter louder as we walk.

"Yah, don't scare me like that! I thought you hated me!" His dramatic flair proved to be amusing as he placed a hand on his chest in mock hurt. I stuck out a tongue at him which he mirrored. "Only when you become too much," I paused, a rather mischievous thought popping up. It probably showed on my face when Chigusa gave me a weirded out look. "And when you hurt my Kashi."

It took a few seconds before he snapped. "I knew Bakashi wasn't good influence for you!" I giggled at his reaction. My brother was just too easy. "Yours? Is he claiming you, too?! I'm gonna hafta show him that you're my sister! Not his! I'm the best brother!" Chigusa was just too easy to tease.

"Okay, okay, you have to get home now, though. I'm sure Sakumo-sama would bring dinner when he gets back." Chigusa might have not realized that we were already at shishou's doorstep and if I have not said those words, he would have gone on and on and on about how he was gonna make Kashi's life miserable.

I love this brother of mine.

I really do.

No questions asked.

"Well, at least you're improving?"

I slumped over in defeat as I finished the last copy of the kanji for fire and it still refused to look like what it was supposed to. Even I don't understand my own writing. "At this point, your penmanship would just be barely average, Chiha-chan." Shishou gave me an apologetic look. "It's like you're cursed to have that kind of... writing for the rest of your life, ya know?"

By this point, I was lying on the ground face first as I contemplate what I should do now. Barrier Seals, I gtoaned. I can't make barriers?! Yes, I was more concerned about that than the fact that no one would probably be able to read my homework or even my mission report in the future. I'm gonna be that one kunoichi everyone would dread!

Because of some stupid penmanship of all things!

I wanted to learn fūinjutsu because for the life of me, my fingers refused to cooperate with me when I practice on hand seals. Kashi teased me about that, too. I can't even see myself graduating at all from the Academy with how uncooperative my fingers were. What kind of ninja couldn't even form the hand seals?!

As shishou gave up on me and went to make a snack, I glared at the last parchment of paper with the crooked kanji for fire. Picking up the brush, I tackled the paper with fervor and used the existing lines to paint a house, complete with cross-hatching, a moon, stars, and falls. Done, I glanced at my masterpiece in triumph. My handwriting might resemble chicken scratch but at least I can draw!

"Chiha-chan, I have snacks prepared!" Shishou called from the kitchen. I can still work with this. I can work this out! As I left the bedroom I've been occupying since my tutelage under shishou, the scent of cup ramen hit me full force and I gave shishou an unimpressed look. "Really? That's not even healthy, shishou." She rolled her eyes and messed my hair up. "Suck it up, Chiha-chan. I'm sure Sakumo-san has something for you when you get home."

Not bothering to argue since she does have a point, I ate up the seafood ramen cup. "By the way," I hummed in response as shishou moves onto her second cup. Not at all surprising considering it's the Uzumaki Kushina. "How's Chigusa-chan?" As much as my brother wanted to avoid my shishou, he failed to keep away and would someti es sit in through her teaching me while I was busy writing my oh so beautiful chicken scratch.

"Okay, probably a lot more annoyed at Kashi though." At this, I caught a gleam of mischief in her eyes, her elbow nudging me lightly. "You like the little Hatake, don't you?" I barely managed to save myself from choking on my ramen. "No wonder Chigusa-chan looks sour every time, ya know? He's probably jealous of your little boyfriend hogging your attention all the time!"

I wasn't sure whether or not I should be amused with shishou's antics. "I'm four."

"That doesn't matter. You three brats don't even act your age most of the time so stop using it as an excuse."

I slumped in defeat.

Shishou was right.

An hour or more later, I walked through the lit streets of Konoha. The walk there reminded of a few things Kaa-chan said before the Hokage ordered her back on active duty. Kaa-chan had a slight fear of the dark; more specifically, the shadows that were way too dark. It was a wonder because Kaa-chan was friendly with the Naras whose specialty was shadows.

Once, I caught a certain fear in her eyes when we had passed by an empty alley after shopping. We were held back by a few acquaintances of Kaa-chan so it took us a Bwhile to get home. The alley had felt... ominous in some sort of way that I couldn't explain properly. Kaa-chan had frozen up, though I barely noticed at all, but kept on walking after half a second.

The fear in her eyes made no sense. After that little incident, I noticed how no darkness really occupied our house. There was a few shadows but they weren't as dark as the one in that alley. Those shadows appeared as if they could swallow someone whole and kept them in eternal darkness.

It had been a little unnerving to realize how Kaa-chan didn't appear to be just a normal kunoichi who has a very specific skill set. Something changed in her demanor back then but I couldn't point out what it was. Kaa-chan was a private person; she barely told me and Chigusa anything regarding her times as a ninja and from the family name Shiratori.

The name Shiratori was more than it appeared to be at first. The ninjas Chigusa and I pass by frequently on our escapades gave us some degree of respect even when we haven't met them. The distinctive blackness of our hair and eyes were exclusive to Shiratori; it was a different blackness altogether compared to the Uchihas.

What's more was the fact I have dual-colored eyes. The way Kaa-chan gazes into my eyes told me that the color was more significant than I thought. Chigusa, in fact, have a pair of black eyes unlike me. I wonder what exactly is the Shiratori.

As I near my temporary home, the silhouette of a familiar friend of mine came to view and a smile threatened to split my face in half. I was overjoyed but I kept a small smile as I stop just in front of him. His crossed arms loosened and resting by his side, sighing as he opened the door for me. "You're late."

"Sorry, Kashi." I wasn't sorry at all, in fact. "I kind of lost track of time." He snorted as we went in. "Don't make such dumb excuses. Ninjas are supposed to be punctual."

"Keyword: supposed to."

"Don't even try it."

"I was just pointing that out."

Kashi gave me an unamused look, his eyes conveying all the words he needed to say. "Your dinner's already reheated. The idiot fell asleep waiting for you." Kashi ppinted at my brother, who was sleeping on the couch, his stomach exposed to the cold air as he snored in his sleep. Before heading to the dinner table, I approached Chigusa.

A disgusting trail of drool dripped down his chin so I grabbed hold of the collar of his shirt and wiped away his drool. I then fixed his shirt so his stomach wouldn't be cold and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Goodnight, Chi-kun." He murmured incoherent things under his breath, leaving me chuckling.

As I seat on a chair and eating a bowl of donburi, Kashi sat across from me with an indifferent expression. Silence ensued between us aside from Chigusa's snore and my chopsticks hitting the bowl ever so often. I wasn't sure why Kashi stayed up, why he reheated my dinner for me, and why he was still here even though he could go to bed a lot earlier.

Was something bothering him?

"You're different from your idiot twin." Kashi bluntly stated. "Why is that?" I could have answered honestly but to be frank, I don't really know. I know I'm not from here, I know what this world is, fragments of its future, and I know I've been someone else; a Before that I keep thinking, a reason how I got here.

But I don't know who I was.

I'm not sure if I should even be called Chiha in the first place.

I am different from Chigusa; I'm different from everyone else.

Instead of giving him a coherent answer, I merely shrugged in response and continued on with my dinner. I sensed his stare, as if trying to dismantle every wall I've put up so no one could see me. I heard him sigh, his chair squeaking in response as he left his seat. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Kashi!"

"Wash that bowl before you sleep. Otou-sama said so."

"Okay!" He paused at the corner of the hall that leads to the bedrooms of this house, his eyes flickering over to me with a look that I couldn't decipher. "... goodnight." And he left.

I wonder what that look was for.

I did what he said after eating, and I went and picked up my brother. I gave him a piggy-back ride as I head for our room. The Hatake household had a living room where we usually spend the day, a kitchen that doubles as the dining room, the backyard where the three of us often train together under Sakumo-sama's watchful eyes, three bedrooms and of course, two bathrooms. Chigusa and I sleep in the guest bedroom, which was a lot smaller than the main one and Kashi's but big enough for us twins.

Putting down my brother on the bed who groaned in his sleep and turned over instantly, I laughed a little before lifting myself up on the bed. I lied down beside Chigusa, my brother turning over again but this time, he ended up hugging me in his sleep. "... late." Chigusa sleepily said and I gave him an apologetic look.

"Sorry, Chi-kun. I got a little distracted on the way home."

"... nothin' hap'n?"

I giggled and decided to hug him back. "Nothing happened, Chi-kun."

"... good."

But what I do know about myself, it was that I would protect this little mishmash of a family that I have.

"... g'night, Chi-chan."

"Goodnight, Chi-kun."