[Preperations! - Part 1]

I smiled and opened my arms as she hobbled into them and buried her face in my chest, picking her up I said, "How are you doing Yua-chan" adjusting my grip so that she could look at me she said, "I missed you nii-san." pouting cutely she peered at the new arrival and looked at Ino-chan.

"Here this is my friend Ino-chan, say hello-" she nodded shyly peering at Ino-chan through her bangs, she has grown up a lot and even though I saw her just two days ago it seems like she grew up without telling me once again. She squirmed so I put her down, her need for attention over for the time, "Mommy is taking a shower so, will you tell me a story nii-san?" She sat down on the couch and patted to the spot next to me eagerly waiting.

I sat down beside her and ruffled her hair and said, "No can do miss, we have a guest don't we why don't you get to know her better-" I leaned forward and whispered in her year acting like it is a big secret, "-she is important to me..." leaning back I said, "now why don't you introduce yourself to Ino-chan here."

She nodded seriously before getting off from the sofa and standing in front of Ino who took a seat beside me, she bowed her head and said, "Hello, I am Yua-chan, 4 years old-" she glared at me when I said, "-not for another 2 months-" before continuing, "- and I hate my nii-san--"

She continued her short introduction I looked at her, standing at just above three feet tall with her bright purple hair similar to her mother cut in him style gave me flashbacks to Hinata's early days look, instead of Yugao-nee's eyes though black eyes gleamed with mischief as she conversed with Ino, her face had access to a lot of babies fat so I never could tell if her face leaned more towards Sensei or towards Yugao-nee but she had Yugao-nee's nose.

I was trying to figure out whether I was relieved or not that she looked more like Yugao-nee when she came out dressed in her shinobi gear, Yugao-nee has been thanked for her many years in ANBU and now she was a famous member of normal forces with Kurenai-sensei. She came towards me and hugged me, "Tobi-kun how nice of you to drop by, and you brought Ino-chan too."

'wait she knows Ino?'

I turned back to give the two of them a look as they both grinned, "You have already met haven't you, that's why I could sense mischief in you, you brat" I move towards Yua as she shrieked and move behind Ino-chan.

"I'll get you later" I promised as she and Ino giggled as I turn towards Yugao-nee, "how are you nee-san?"

I directed a look at her as she said, "Happy that you came to meet, she always asks about you, especially since the last year when you have been taking too many goddamn missions..."

"Oh come on, you know nobody can touch my ass so chill, I'll be fine-" I noticed the look on her face as I tried to placate her but she asked, "will you be going?" at my question look she added, "to the front lines--" I sighed and nodded and she looked ready to protest but I said, "you know I'll be going Yugao-nee, stop worrying will you, nobody can touch me as I said--"

'And I guess she's angry-'

I turn to placate the angry girl but she fired back, "no, no, no, you just came back from a 6-month long mission 2 days ago, you're not going on another one..." She whispered as tears appeared in her eyes, "you promised to be here on my birthday and teach me a jutsu..." I looked at her conflicted for a second before I opened my arms to her and she jumped into them.

"And I'll be back for your birthday, it's a promise okay, you know your nii-san's strong right, I'll always come back kiddo-" I rubbed the back of her head as she sniffled before stopped crying.

I smiled at her and started joking about how she looked a little fat than 2 days ago and she went right back into brooding mode.

'Take care kiddo-'

---------------------------X0X----------------------------

I closed the door behind as me and Ino said our farewell to Yua-chan, I jumped across the building and leaned against the railing as Ino jumped right beside me, "Mind telling me what that was about, Tobi-kun?" she hesitated before saying, "I'm happy to meet them officially thorough you but I realize there is a reason for you to do this?"

I sighed and exhaled, watching my breath chilled into visibility by the cold weather, "Onoki of both scales, A the Raikage of Kumo, Gaara of the Ichibi, these are the monsters I'll be fighting soon enough, the battle above A-rank kinda blurs, anything can happen, I'm confident in coming out of any situation Ino-chan... but-" I hesitated as she finished my sentence for me, " but if you fail you want me to look after Yua-chan?"

I glanced at her and she was facing me, daring me to look her in the eye, "But you won't fail will you?"

I nodded as my senses tracked a familiar chakra signature appearing on the same roof, Ino didn't notice but I sighed and stood up before turning to her.

'Duty calls-'

"Take care Ino-chan, I'll be back I promise." I leaned forward and kissed her forehead before disappearing in a Shunshin.

I appeared beside Itachi as he looked at Ino still standing there frozen, "Let's go"

He nodded as we both silently started jumping towards Tsunade-sama's office, "Did you meet her already?"

He shook his head so I gave him a curious eyebrow, "Why the hell not?"

'I know his face must have been perfectly blank but I could sense the mirth hidden in his bland reply'

"Because I had to first report to the clan head after coming back-"

'... wait what?'