The days blurred together as Team 7 continued their string of tedious D-Rank missions. Surprisingly, there were no complaints. After the encounter with Zabuza and Haku in the Land of Waves, the team had learned just how precious these "boring" days truly were. Even Naruto, usually the loudest critic of low-level work, applied himself earnestly to the menial tasks.
Since the incident where the Anbu attempted to assassinate her, Kanon had grown noticeably more withdrawn. Outside of Team 7, she remained silent and guarded. Kakashi, observing her over the following days, let out a slow breath. He remembered the Third Hokage mentioning that ever since the night of the massacre, Kanon's sense of "security" had been fragile.
As her sensei, he felt a heavy weight of responsibility for what she had endured. Life moved on, but while she acted like her old self with her teammates, she had completely stopped communicating with anyone outside their circle. To strangers, she was merely a quiet, distant girl.
Kakashi's heart burned with a quiet indignation for her. To be hunted by her own kin, to narrowly escape, and then to be targeted by the darkness within her own village… it was a burden no child should bear.
He watched from a distance as Kanon held a stray cat while Sakura teased it. Naruto was nearby, pointing at himself and grinning, while Sasuke stood to the side with his arms crossed. Kakashi clenched his fist.
I will protect you... all of you... He adjusted his headband, the three-tomoe Sharingan in his left eye gleaming. This eye was a gift from his best friend, the legacy of Obito's will. To cherish one's comrades was the core of his ninja way.
Kakashi stepped forward, joining his favorite squad.
"Kakashi-sensei, do you want to pet him?" Kanon lifted the large ginger cat toward him.
He leaned down, scratched the cat under the chin, and addressed the group. "Today's missions are officially complete. Everyone, gather early tomorrow morning. I might have an announcement to make."
"Might..." Kanon's lip twitched. Experience told her that "might" usually meant "no."
"Can't you tell us now?" Naruto asked, squinting as he squeezed in between Sakura and Kanon to pet the cat. Between Kanon, the undisputed beauty of the Uchiha, and his long-time crush, Sakura, Naruto was secretly enjoying being right in the middle.
"Nope. I have to maintain the mystery."
Once the team disbanded, Naruto went off to pester Sakura, while Kanon walked home with Sasuke.
"Sasuke-nii, what should we have for dinner? How about I make some beef miso soup?"
"That sounds good. It's been a while since I've had your beef stew," Sasuke agreed, nodding.
"I just made it three days ago!" Kanon pouted.
"We're ninjas; we burn a lot of calories. Actually, Kanon, you take a break today. I'll handle the cooking!" Sasuke announced solemnly.
"No, no, no!" Kanon blurted out three "no's" in rapid succession. The memory of a certain purple, skull-like aura emanating from his "poisonous" cooking made her skin crawl.
…
The next morning, Naruto finished his breakfast, adjusted his headband, and headed to the meeting spot full of energy. When he arrived, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kanon were already there waiting.
"Morning, Sakura! Morning, Kanon!" He then gave Sasuke a look of mild annoyance. Sasuke rolled his eyes in return. Kanon watched them with a "kind" smile; she knew that despite their bickering, the two cared about each other deeply.
Sakura looked a bit haggard. Here we go again, she thought. Ever since the Land of Waves, the dynamic between Naruto and Sasuke had been strange. Kanon hadn't been there for that mission, but she knew the danger her sister had faced was ten times worse than anything they had encountered.
As expected, Kakashi was late.
"Morning, everyone! Sorry, I got lost on the path of life!"
Kanon and Naruto immediately met him with looks of pure disdain, loudly condemning his tardiness and the flimsy excuses he always used.
"So, what's the big announcement, Sensei?" Naruto asked.
"I'll tell you later. First, the missions," Kakashi said, maintaining the suspense.
The result was a morning spent weeding gardens and picking up trash in the river. Naruto, true to form, managed to make a fool of himself several times, ending with Kanon patching up his scrapes and applying bandages. Eventually, the Uchiha siblings found themselves practically carrying the exhausted Naruto.
"Naruto, if you don't want to keep owing Kanon and me favors, you need to get stronger," Sasuke said. He thought back to Zabuza and Haku; knowing there were so many people out there stronger than him left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Alright, that's it for today. Dismissed," Kakashi said.
"Wait! Kakashi-sensei! What about the announcement?!" Naruto and Sakura shouted.
"Are you guys idiots? He said 'might.' That means there isn't one," Sasuke deadpanned.
"Exactly." Kakashi gave a cheeky grin and vanished instantly.
Naruto and Sakura stood there, stunned. He had tricked them into waking up early and then made them do chores, only to bail. As the two slumped in dejection, Kanon sighed and went over to comfort them.
"Whatever. I'm going home," Sasuke said, walking away. Sakura quickly followed him.
Seeing Sakura ignore him, Naruto lowered his head gloomily. Suddenly, his spiky blond hair was vigorously ruffled by Kanon.
"The man who's going to be Hokage shouldn't look so depressed over nothing."
"Kanon..." Naruto looked up at her gentle, encouraging smile and felt his spirits lift. "You're right! I'm the one who's going to be Hokage!"
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a kunai with a flower carved into the handle. "See? I still have this."
"You still have that? I thought you would have lost it by now!" Kanon laughed, taking it to examine. It was well-maintained.
"It was the first gift you ever gave me," Naruto said, playfully snatching it back. "I can't give it back yet. I'll return it to you on the day I officially become Hokage!"
Kanon nodded softly. She then reached into her own pouch and handed him another kunai, identical to the first.
"This is the 'Hokage Commemorative Edition.' It's for you! Because you will become Hokage."
"Wait, I have two now?"
"You don't have to return this one. This is my 'Hokage Blessing,' given in advance!"
Naruto felt his nose tingle with a sudden prickle of emotion. While everyone else mocked his dream or insisted he would fail, this Uchiha girl, a year younger than him, gave him nothing but unwavering belief and support.
"I'll... I'll take it then. Kanon, thank you!"
"Hahaha, then you better work hard!"
Kanon pressed the kunai into his hand and gave him one last encouraging smile.