When I left Shun and Mizu the next day--after a breakfast of tea and sweets--I almost immediately ran into Naruto.

I stumble back, automatically reaching out a hand to steady both him and myself. His appearance startles me, and despite the fact he has clearly grown all I can see is the twelve year old I would ignore and torment. I close my eyes against the pain for a long moment. When I open them, his blue eyes are staring at me with concern I do not deserve.

"Sorry, Naruto," I murmur, pulling my hand away.

I can still feel his gaze on me but I don't deserve to hear anything even resembling forgiveness from him so I turn and begin to walk away. But then I can't stand it and I whirl, trying to ignore the tears that sting at the back of my eyes. Naruto was still looking after me, and that makes it both easier and harder.

"I'm sorry," I say again, but this time it's not for bumping into him. I think he can somehow sense it, because his gaze softens and something close to a smile graces his face.

"It's okay," he replied softly. "It's okay."

And somehow that makes it worse. I don't want him to forgive me. I want him to hate me for what I had done but Naruto is just too good of a person for that and it hurts. But instead of voicing all of this, I simply clear my throat and call out, "Tell Sakura I say hello, will you?"

He nods and he's still smiling and I know that he has somehow peered into my eyes and seen everything inside. I spin, hurrying away and feeling even younger than I was. Naruto was so bright, so full despite everything and in comparison I was completely empty.

I first go to Tsunade's office, who tells me that she's been too busy to even get started on my problem. Her honest dismissal sends me spiraling into a flash of anger that I only barely stop myself from expressing. In the end she offered to give me solo D and C rank missions whenever I check in. Despite feeling incredibly insulted (I could handle more than genin missions!) I accept.

Breathe in, and out.

I leave Tsunade's office with the promise that she would prepare some low ranking solo missions for me and head to the hospital. I didn't get to talk with him last night, and wanted to see him again because despite my training and growing stronger I missed him.

When I enter the room he's there this time, playing chess with himself. He barely glances over at me, all his attention focused on the game. I go to take it away so we could talk, but he bats at my hand and glares lightly and I'm forced to concede.

I talk at him more than with him, finally stumbling onto my training over the years.

"After almost four months I found this clan who traveled around, like nomads, kinda. They said that they used to be a clan of Konoha, actually, but that they've dwindled in numbers and people feared them and so they've left," I mumur. "They were all extremely skilled at genjutsu. Have you ever heard of the clan called Kura--"

"Fuzen."

I freeze. Why the hell was my father here? I never, ever, ever wanted my Sensei to see my Father, see how he treated me, to even this day and I know that something is going to happen because something always happens and if this is going to be the power struggle I think it's going to be something big.

"Fuzen," he said again. "I have a proposal for you."

I keep the surprise off of my face and simply nod. "I'm listening."

"Be my ambassador for the company. You did well when I sent you to renegotiate the contract a few years ago. Join the family company."

I blanch. This was... This was... A chance at my father's approval.

This was his attempt at regaining control over me.

I narrow my eyes, standing to face him. Sensei continues his chess game. "Father," I reply. "I made my decision years ago, and I am not changing it. My answer is no--"

My head is turned to the side. I saw it coming and I couldn'tcouldn'tcouldn't dodge I never could and he had slapped me.

I slowly turn back, eyes wide and I am going to murder my father.

He slowly raises his hand to slap me again and my eyes are wide and I can't seem to process what's happening and there's a clatter of chess pieces and suddenly Sensei is standing in between my Father and I.

He seemed, for a moment, confused as to why he was holding my father's wrist. Then his eyes rapidly cleared, the fire in them scouring away the clouds. His back was straight, his stance was strong, and he was more Sensei than I'd ever seen.

"You won't touch Fuzen," he said quietly.

"What I do with my daughter is my business," Father snaps. "Now unhand me!"

Righteous anger rolls from Sensei in waves, and I find myself surprised by the absolute terror I feel in response to his fury-- the possibility of that amount of anger ever being aimed at me was petrifying.

Sensei takes a step forward, hand still holding Father's wrist above his head. Father takes a half step back, intimidated by Sensei, who suddenly seemed to take up so much more space. His presence--his anger-- filled the room.

"I don't think you understand," Sensei warns softly. "You won't touch Fuzen."

"She's my daughter," Father hissed.

"And she's my student. And you won't touch her," Sensei murmured, grip on Father's wrist tightening.

"You can't stop me, you stupid, weak fuck-up!" Father suddenly shouted, the noise falling flat in the otherwise quiet room. "She's my daughter and I'll discipline her how I want, I'll fucking teach her what happens when--"

There was a crack and Father's face went white as he sagged backwards, a strange, pained whimper escaping his mouth. Father's free hand scrabbled at Sensei's, but Sensei didn't release his wrist, which was now bent back at an unnatural angle.

Sensei glared at Father, his blue eyes gone dark with fury. "Do you understand yet?" He questions, voice barely above a whisper.

"I..." Father's eyes are wide, and he looks over Sensei's shoulder towards me.

"No," Sensei denied immediately, using his free hand to grab Father's jaw, forcibly dragging his gaze away from me and back towards his murderous ones. "No, you don't look at her."

"I won't listen to--" any weak protest Father was attempting to make was cut off as Sensei bent his broken wrist even more. Father cried out, attempting to strike at father with his free left hand.

I almost cry out to warn Sensei but he's already blocked it, twisting Father's arm around painfully. "Don't tempt me," Sensei warned softly. "Don't tempt me."

Finally Father nodded. "I understand," he whispered. Sensei immediately released him, and Father stumbled back, clutching his wrist to his chest. "Don't you dare even think about ever coming into my house again, you ungrateful little bitch," father hissed.

Sensei whirls around and backhands him, eyes blazing. "Like I would ever let her go near you again, unless it was to kick your ass," he hissed venomously. "Now get out."

I watch father stumble from the room before turning my wide-eyed gaze to Sensei. He never raised his voice, I realized. That was the worst thing.

He was being kind; all those times Sensei turned the other cheek to an insult, every time he turned his back when a criminal was just asking for it, he wasn't being weak.

This is what Sensei was protecting them from. From the fury of a man who had more power than most could even dream of.

He was being kind.

Father turns and runs from the room and I think vaguely that I should visit soon to cement the lesson and then Sensei is kneeling in front of me and smiling. "Fuzen," and my name means something else when he says it. "Do you want to come and see the birds nest I found the other day?"

He doesn't seem to understand why I'm crying.

__________________________

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