Each day was a planned routine. We would wake up and fix our beds. Then we would all look for what clothes we were going to wear before taking a shower in the shower room. Then all of us would file down to the kitchen and start breakfast. The older kids would handle the hot food while the smaller cut and served.

We would then greet Timoro-sama by the dining room entrance. Each day we would change servers and we would all wait until she started eating before starting.

Then we would clean up and the older kids would leave to go to the academy. We were only allowed to eat during meal times anyone caught sneaking food would get punished. When the older kids got back we would all make dinner and just like breakfast we would line up by the dining room door and wait for Timoro-sama.

Then by 8 we would all be sent to bed after cleaning the entire orphanage complex.

But that didn't mean each day was the same. There seemed to be a underline fear everyone had because who knew who was the next to be punished.

Everyone had their own little group, family that were related to by blood or friendship. Each tended to their own. The big kids always seemed to help us out when we were punished. Sometimes you'd hear them calling the head mistress cruel, a monster, but we all knew better than to repeat the words from the older kids.

"Hibiko, can you teach me things you learn in the academy?" I asked as I followed behind her she had long brown unruly hair and large brown doe eyes. "You already learned the henge?" She asked and I quickly nodded. "Yeah yeah. Watch." I say smiling as I did the handsigns and made myself look just like her.

"Wow amazing, but right now I can't. We all got called by Timoro-sama to go outside." She stated and I quickly nodded."you'll come back later?" I asked and She chuckled, "Of course." She smiled .

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Everyone was asleep, well we were suppose to be asleep but Hibiko and a few of the older kids were awake. I had awoken when they walked back in. They were covered in dirt their eyes a bloodshot red and puffy and a few of the girls couldn't stop crying.

"I can't, we have to tell someone. Today it was niko, who will it be tomorrow? She's so cruel, she wants to kill us and if we don't speak up she will. I don't, I dont want to dig anymore holes." Hibiko cried as another girl named kykio rubbed her back.

"He was such a good kid, he didn't deserve to..... how many more will we have to bury before we do something?" Hibiko hiccuped as she cried trying hard to stay quiet.

"We have to tell someone but not right now. We have to discuss this outside of the orphanage. If she hears us we will go missing too." Taniki a girl with messy short brown hair and hazel eyes stated.

I couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about. Bury niko, why would they do that? Does that mean he got adopted? I couldn't help but remember what Timoro-sama told us today about Niko getting adopted and leaving. What did that have to do with him being burried?
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"So everyday this is what your brother must eat, if he eats anymore he will get sick." Timoro-sama stated as she placed a small bowl of watery soup down and two pieces of bread.

I looked over at her and smiled. "Thank you for worrying so much about my big brothers health." I say bowing and picking up the tray of food.

I walked out of the kitchen and nii-chan was sitting on the dining room table waiting to eat breakfast. "Here you go nii-chan. This is your food." I say smiling setting his tray of food down infront of him.

"Yay, I thought I'd never get to eat." He cheered as he quickly started eating. "Really? Well I'm glad you like it, but remember you can't have dinner." I said as I sat down beside him. He looked at me cocking a brow. "Why not?" He asked and I sighed.

"Don't worry about it, it's because of your health so sit back and let your nee-chan watch over you." I say smiling. I couldn't help but get sad thinking about his illness.

He didn't have to worry about that, he had to recover.
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"Nee-chan I'm hungry." Naruto grumbled as we were helping the big kids clean the house. I frowned and patted his head. "How about I go get you some water." I say as I placed the cleaning rag back into the bucket and hurried to the kitchen. I heard a loud thump.

"Repeat what you said you brat." Timoro-sama hissed as she cornered Hibiko-nee. Hibiko opened her mouth but blood poured out. Timoro-sama laughed. "What is it. Tongue missing?" She laughed holding up something small and pink.

I tried to get a better look. Hibiko-nee let out inaudible sounds that sounded like a mixture of crying and begging. That's when I noticed the blood on the floor. Hibiko' s hands were also tied up and she only wore a thin blood covered shirt. She was on the floor trying to cover her body and shaking in fear.

"Did you think I'd let you run that little mouth of yours? I knew what you were planning and you're a perfect example for the other girls. Am I right?" She laughed glancing off to the side. I heard shuffling and muffled cries. I couldn't see who was there but they sounded afraid. I slowly backed away from the door and hurried to the kitchen. Whatever was going on there. I didn't want to be part of it.
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"Why can't I go to eat dinner with you, I only ate breakfast today." Naruto grumbled and I frowned. "Because Timoro-sama says your tummy is not strong enough to handle more food." I reply.

"But I was fine a few weeks ago!" He snapped frowning as he looked at me. I looked down. "I don't want you to get hurt but I guess, I'll get you something okay. I just hate seeing you sad." I say as I turned around and hurried downstairs.

It had been a few weeks since I started taking care of Naruto just like Timoro-sama told me. But no matter how much I tried, big brother was never satisfied. He would get mad at me and hit me saying he just wanted to eat. So I'd bring him a bit of my food to calm him down.

We all waited by the dining room door. Timoro-sama walked in and we all followed behind. Like always dinner was quiet.

Nobody dared to look at Timoro-sama. Not only that but Hibiko hadn't come back. I wondered if she got adopted. Last I'd seen her Timoro was punishing her and that was the last time. That night some of the big girls stayed up all night crying and others started disappearing after that but nobody asked Timoro-sama. Since it really wasn't any of our buisness.

Some of the boys disappeared too. Everyone was curious but nobody wanted to ask.

I was eating my food and snuck a sandwich underneath my dress. I finished eating and waited quietly.

"You all may leave." She spoke and no one wasted a second to stand up, pick up their plate and leave. I placed my plate in the sink and grabbed another sandwich off the counter before hiding it under my dress as well. I rushed to the top of the stairs and hurried to the boys corridor and walked in. "Naruto-nii." I quickly spotted him sitting on his bed.

I smiled. "I brought food for you." I stated holding up the two small sandwiches. "How did you manage to get two today?!" He asked as he quickly took them and began eating. "Dont worry about it just eat up and be careful." I stated sweat dropping and concerned.

"Thanks nee-chan and I'm sorry about hitting you. I.... I was just mad." He grumbled looking down. "Dont worry about it, rememberwhat I told you, girls don't get hurt as easily as boys." I say with a bright smile.

His eyes filled with tears and he hugged me. "I'm sorry for being such a meanie nee-chan." He cried out and began to sob. "Its okay, it's because your sick and going through so much." I say hugging him back.
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Months had passed. Nothing had really changed except for most of the big kids having left. But I didn't worry about any of that.

Recently nii-chan had gotten worse. He was barely able to walk and he had become very very thin. He was always complaining about how cold he was and how he didn't want to run or play because his body hurt.

"Kaa-san is he getting better?" I asked nervously as I looked up at her. She smiled and nodded. "Yes of course, at the moment he might not look like it but he's so much healthier than you think. I'm so proud of you, I know it must be hard taking care of him when he's always whinning about food."She stated.

I stood nodded. "But come here I want to teach you something." She stated and I got closer. "Put your fingers here."She stated placing her fingers on his wrist.

I did as I was told and I felt a soft thumping underneath. "That is his heart beat. You can also feel it here ." She stated placing two fingers on his neck.

"Lay your head on his chest you can also hear his heart beat here." She smiled and I did as she told me to.

"What happens if I don't hear it?" I ask and her grin widened. "That means he died, you'll have to go outside and dig a big hole and throw him in there. Then you'll fill that hole up with dirt and never see him again." She stated and I stiffened at the thought.

"You mean like we did to Yukio?" I asked as my lip trembled and she nodded. "Better take good care of him or he could die." She smirked as she stood up and left the room. I couldn't help but cry. I didn't want to bury my nii-chan. I felt my hot tears run down my face.

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Time had passed. Nii-chan rarely spoke anymore. Now days I had to pick him up to take him to the restroom and bath him as well. He was so skinny and light.

When I fed him he ate slowly and even with my portion of food he wasn't getting better.

Timoro-sama had moved him to a small room with a window, chair and small bed. Everyday I'd sit with him. I barely left his side.

Every night I sat in the chair and held his hand. His body shivered even underneath all of the blankets and sometimes his chest would stop moving. Each time it did I would start to desperately cry and tried to wake him up. Sometimes it took a bit but he'd open his eyes look at me and give me a small smile.

"Nee-chan you're crying." He'd whisper in a low soft voice. And I would simply nod and hold his hand as the day went by.

Sometimes Timoro-sama would walk in stumbling and try to hit nii-chan but I always protected him. At times I even would forget how long it had been since I saw nii-chan walk.

Looking back at it now I could barely remember what he looked like before he got sick.

The only time I'd leave nii-chan was when I'd go get our food,use the restroom, shower, or when Timoro-sama sent us out to dig holes.

Sometimes I would stay up all night watching over him making sure he was still alive. I didn't want to loose him, I needed my brother the only family I had.

I hadn't slept in my own bed for months maybe a year now. But it was okay. All I had to do was take care of my big brother, it is what I promised the Hokage.
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I drew hibiko :)

Greenleaf village orphanage. This chapter was to give more information about Naruto and akumi's childhood.

Rosymalik