5 Chapter 5

It's not until three months have passed that she finally sees (ha!) her father. He's a merchant and went away the night of her birthday, after celebrating the whole day with the real Yukihira and her mom. He's distressed when he sees her honey-colored eyes, because, from what her mother told her, they have gained a cloudy taint in them.

By the seventh month, when her control is better and she can see blurry figures of her surroundings (more like blobs, actually), she's decided to tell her parents of her decision. At the moment, Katara's Template is at 15% while Mihawk's is at 6% which means fewer falls for her. Also, her chakra control is at the point where she can stick three leaves on her face. Her dokiri is at 18 and her energy control is at 20%.

She tries convincing her parents by telling them how she's able to more or less see around her. "And I will get better with time!"

Her father, who just came yesterday, is already shaking his head. His face is set in a frown, but he still tries to explain gently, "Dear, I think you don't understand the situation, but there's a war brewing. Is not the time to be a ninja. Not for civilians like us."

She doesn't ask more about it, knowing if she does so she will lose the argument.

"I've got these powers, dad, I want to help Konoha!"

A lie, true, as her motives are mostly selfish and strange even to herself but maybe the nationalism will resonate with them?

Her mother for the first time speaks, her face finally getting rid of her shock. "Sweety, why? And don't try to tell me is because of Konoha, I know you. It's not because of that."

Dang it! A little step back in her plans. She retreats, searching for an excuse but her mother's firm voice interrupts her thoughts, "And tell me the truth."

Crap.

She frowns. She doesn't know how to explain it because she's not sure herself. Her eyes begin to water even though she doesn't want to cry, her body is still like that of a child and vulnerable to strong emotions. She decides then that instead of telling a lie or trying to come out with a half-truth, she will say what she can—what she understands.

"Mom, Dad. I need to do this," she says with a solemnity that doesn't belong to a child. "Something tells me if I don't go, I will regret it. I don't want to regret anything in this life I've got."

'Not any more' is what she mentally finishes. While she doesn't remember personal things of her life something tells her she's lived with deep regrets. She doesn't want to relieve that feeling.

Both parents look at each other before her mother kneels to her height. "I know you've been training so hard since we left the hospital. At first, I thought you were trying to find a way to be able to live normally… not this. But, I understand, sweety."

Her father soon follows my mother's example. "Your mother told me some of the things you did to train that she saw you doing and… and I will agree, but you've got to promise me that you will not graduate early. I know with your smarts you will be able to finish the lessons easily, but I want to delay your path to ninja as much as I can." He then glances at her mother, before returning her gaze to her. He chuckles bitterly and adds, "Is that selfish of me?"

She shakes her head, crying in happiness instead of stress. She's got the whole waterworks shebang going pretty strong. She hopes she's not an ugly crier at least.

With this done, she will return to her training. Tomorrow, though. She needs some cuddles right at the moment.

Also, she reminds herself to ask later her mom about what war her dad was talking about. Probably that will help her find where in the timeline she is.

-

As she finds out, the Third Ninja War is brewing. The year is 55 after the birth of Konoha and the Second Ninja War just ended last year. Talk about not being able to solve conflicts. Just a year has passed and the next war is about to blow up? While in peacetime she knows that the Academy years one had to attend were five or six, she's not sure but apparently, in times of war, it's common to last at least two years minimum and four if one's slow.

She, by the promise she made to her father, will have to go the slow route. Even if she will be a year older than most.

Welp, time to train harder then. She's mostly training control over abilities as she's not sure how to exercise physically without pulling a tendon or damaging herself. So better to leave that to the professionals. She still runs around her house until she's too tired to improve her stamina, though.

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Author: Pairings that you would like?