Breaking Faith | Hatake Kakashi

Chapter 18 ~ Old Enough To Die

Published - ??|??|2014

Rewritten - 16|07|2017

"Do you accept this mission?" Hiruzen silently gazed around the room, studying the children carefully under his watchful eyes.

Rieka met his eyes confidently, standing in the Hokage's office along with Team Minato; Kakashi, Rin, Obito and the rest of Team Choza; Guy and Ebisu. Hiruzen sat patiently in his chair, chin resting in the palm of his head. The three Chunin; Kakashi and the newly promoted Guy and Rieka. Along with the remaining Genin and two Jonin sensei had all been summoned or a group mission.

Konoha shinobi were growing thin and the front lines were being left undefended, Rieka's worse fears were coming true — they war was beginning and they were to fight in it. Almost half a year had passed since Rieka and the rest were promoted to Chunin, and she herself had just turned nine.

According to the council she and the others were old enough to fight, Hiruzen gravely doubted their decision and even went as so far as to ask them to consider waiting until the children were either all Chunin or some Jonin. However they refused, arguing it was a dire situation. Both Rieka and Kakashi were valuable prodigies and in their eyes, they were being wasted in Konoha.

They came to the conclusion that they children should attend a 'practice' mission to determine whether or not they were fit for warfare. They were all terrified, none of them wanted to fight in a war and knew that they were sure to die if they did.

But their fate was sealed, it was impossible to escape. Rieka wasn't overly fazed by the thought of death, rather she was infuriated the others had to fight. They were only children, everyone knew they wouldn't survive and yet they were making them anyway.

It was barbaric to march them to their deaths but Rieka knew it was pointless to argue, no one would listen.

"I accept and have no intention on dying today." She told Hiruzen, eyes filled with determination as she stared him down.

He nodded, smiling just a bit. He was proud of her; for the once cold child was slowly opening her heart and transforming into a strong young woman, willing to fight for the people she now considered cherished friends. 

::

Rieka pulled on her chunin vest which donned the traditional Uzumaki and Akiyama clan insignia. However most did not recognise the red swirl to be of Uzushiogakure as the long died out clan was almost as forgotten as her own.

"Rie-chan!" She could hear Obito's voice all the way from her apartment, pinpointing his chakra she sprinted off after him.

Rin flinched a little as Rieka dropped suddenly out of no where to stand beside Obito, who grinned brightly. "Impressive as always, Rie-chan, but still not fast enough to beat ya record!" He teased and Rieka just rolled her eyes, although smiling just a bit.

Rin just looked between the down, confused as to how she managed to hear him when they were so far away. Minato, who stood beside her, smiled softly. "They aren't just known for only their speed and chakra sensing, which were both very impressive, but for their slightly better than most people's senses; things like hearing or sight. Although not as good as clan that specialise in them, like the Inuzuka, they were still impressive in their own right."

Rin nodded slowly. "The Akiyama are incredible..." But she couldn't help but be envious of Rieka for being born into such clan; however Rin would choose family over strength any day — as Rieka always seemed to be so alone.

"Yeah...they were." Rin looked over to Minato, hearing his choice of wording 'were' and went to question it when Kakashi walked over.

"Took you long enough!" Rieka crossed her arms over her chest, "Wasting my precious time, we have to get going before we lose daylight!"