"Nani?!" Ara yelled.

"Gomen, Ara-chan... But I can't decline... It's a very important mission..."

"...When will you come back?" She muttered.

"The mission is about 2 weeks. But I'll try to finish it in one. It's just from here to Suna and back, after all." Kakashi said, as he stood up, and walked towards the front door.

"You may be hurry, but don't be reckless. And if you get hurt, go to hospital immediately. Don't try to find me first, like the last time. I don't want to have to find an antidote for your clumsiness."

"Okay. No promises on the last part, though."

"... Aniki ..." Ara growled.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Sorry, imouto."

"Just be careful."

Kakashi pulled Ara into a tight hug. "And for that one, I promise I will. As long as you do the same."

"Okay." She said, and Kakashi let her go.

"I love you." Kakashi said, as he smiled softly, and ruffled Ara's white hair.

"Love you too, Aniki."

Kakashi kissed Ara's forehead. He put on his mask.

"See you in a week."

Then he disappeared.

*/*\*/*\*

"Hello, Hatake number 2!" Shisui yelled, as he barged into the house.

Ara sighed, as she stood up from the couch. "Hi Shisui."

"Ne... Ara-chan... Why so gloomy?"

"Let me guess: Kakashi's on mission." Itachi said, as he walked in, and closed the door.

"Yeah..." Ara muttered, as she picked up Bull, and starts petting him.

"Wow, look at the puppy. He's big now." Shisui stated.

Ara nodded, as she leaned on the couch.

"You know, ever since that night, I haven't left this place, unless teleporting to the Hokage office."

"Why?" This time Itachi asked.

"I'm scared." She muttered.

The two Uchihas stayed silent.

*/*\*/*\*

It has been about 6 days since Kakashi left for his mission, and Ara...

Ara is bored as hell.

But she noticed something different from her guardian.

'Yūsha' Ara called, as she petted Guruko's head.

-What is it, Ara?-

'You have been acting weird.'

Yūsha turned away. -I know.-

'Why?'

-Our bond is damaged. Don't you feel it? When you accidentally bumped on Kakashi yesterday, I can't feel your pain. I usually can feel anything your sense feel.-

'Is it... The Kyūbi?'

-Maybe.-

'Whatever. I need some candy.' She stated, before putting Guruko down and exited the house.

She might be scared, but even her love of sugar is stronger than her fear of the villagers.

*/*\*/*\*

Karasu entered a small candy shop with a grin. She missed sweets.

But everything soon changed.

"You-... You're the demon fox! What the hell are you doing here?!" The man behind the counter yelled as soon as he saw her entering the shop.

"I-..."

"Get out, Kyūbi! Better if you just die! Don't you dare came back here!" The man yelled, as he hit Ara's head.

Ara shrieked in pain, before she ran out of the building, and bumped onto someone.

The man, whom she had bumped into, let out an angry yell, before grabbing her collar, and pulled her up.

"How dare you- You're the Kyūbi!" He shouted, as he punched her, and dropped her to the ground.

Before the man can kick her, Ara made some handsigns and teleported away.

She appeared in the middle of the street. Not many people recognized her, and she was glad of that.

"Hey, kiddo! You hungry?" A voice yelled.

Ara turned, to see an old man, probably in his 40s, standing in front of a ramen shop.

"Yeah, I'm talking to you, the little girl with white hair!" He added, smiling.

Ara's eyes lit up, and she ran towards the man.

"Wanna try my ramen?" He asked, as he entered the shop.

Ara nodded, following the man.

She's hungry, and that's all that matters.

"But Sir, I am-"

"What? The Kyūbi? I don't care. You're still a kid, after all. I have a daughter, she's about your age. Tell me, kid, where's your parents?"

A frown made its way towards her face. The man seemed to notice this, that he let out a small sigh.

"You don't have to tell me. By the way, call me Teuchi."

"I'm Ara."

"Sweet name for sweet girl." Teuchi commented, as he put a bowl in front of Ara.

Ara grinned. Not many people says that about her.

And she starts wolfing down the ramen.

"This is delicious! Heaven on Earth!" She exclaimed.

The man chuckled, ruffling her hair.

"Well, it's on the house today."

"Really? Thank you so much!" Ara exclaimed happily, before she slurped down the rest of the ramen. She put down the bowl with a satisfied sigh.

"That was great. Thanks again!"

"No problem. Just came here anytime, even just for a chat."

"I'll visit again, promise!"

"Alright! Just remember the name, kid! I-chi-ra-ku!" Teuchi replied, as he waved at the girl, who walked out of the shop.

"Got it!"

*/*\*/*\*

"Ah!" Ara shrieked, as she ran and bumped into another person. She fell to the ground, and covered her head with her hands, cowering in fear.

"Ne... What are you afraid of, Crow?"

Ara looked up, to see her only female friend, Hana.

The Inuzuka gave her a grin, offering her hand and pulled the Hatake up.

"So, what's up? You haven't answered my question."

"N-Nothing."

"Eh...?" Hana asked, as she stared at Karasu's face, examining her.

"You're lying." She bluntly stated.

Ara sighed. "Yes, I am. But you don't have to worry. I'm fine."

Hana raised an eyebrow, before she shrugged. "Alright then. If you say so. But I want you to come to my house tomorrow. You must see my baby brother."

"B-But I already promised Itachi to do the same!"

"Oh, so you can't visit 2 house in one day, huh? How slow do you walk from Itachi's house to mine?"

"I'm not that slow, you mutt! Of course I can visit both of you!"

"Great! See you tomorrow!" Hana cheered, and ran away.

Ara sighed. "... Seriously....?"

She let out a small laugh, as she reached the front door. "I'm back, Yūsha!" She yelled, as she entered the house.

She froze in the doorway.

"Yūsha? Why do you turn off the lights?"

"Yūsha answer me. Where are- mmphhh!!" Her voice was muffled when someone covered half of her face with a wet fabric.

With that, she lost her consciousness.

*/*\*/*\*

Another cliffhanger....

I'll update in 3 days, the soonest.

Tomorrow and the day after that, I'm going on another hiking trip with my Tou-san.

As always, I already have half of the next chapter typed, and the whole scene is ready to be written from my mind.

I noticed that I haven't add any picture for the chapters... Well, my Chrome has some problem, and I can't add any picture. While the last one, about the AnimeFanWatty, I updated that from my phone. I'll to add a picture for the next chapter. You don't mind Kurama, do you?

Again, sorry for the cliffy.

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Thanks for reading!