Flower in the Mirror [Hatake Kakashi] [1]

❄️ Chapter 8 ❄️

Yumetsuki stared at the Third Hokage as he suggested that the white-haired girl could be promoted into being a Jonin, given that she was working very hard. However, this time, Yumetsuki was not bashful, rather she was disgruntled that she was being promoted within just a few months of being a Chunin. She did not understand why she could not remain a Chunin.

Everyone from her classroom was still a Genin, they had not even turned Chunin yet – their exam was coming up very soon now. Yumetsuki did not want to jump ahead of them again. She could hear the things that people said about her, about her so quickly rushing through these positions.

They speculated that she was the one who was selfish, that Yumetsuki with her foreign tricks was able to charm her way through such positions. No matter how much she wanted to fit in with them over the years, her features only continued to grow more and more different from them.

Once the Third Hokage had finished going over her report with her, both him and Minato turned to look at her, inquiring her about what her decision was regarding this.

"I do not want to be a Jonin," Yumetsuki said, interjecting into their words in a voice that was unlike her. Hiruzen and Minato looked at her in surprise. "I cannot do this!"

"Yumeko-Kun," Minato spoke up as he realised that she was shaking, and he reached out to place a hand on her shoulder but Yumetsuki moved, turning away from them.

"No, I do not want to be like this," Yumetsuki told them as she rushed to disappear from the room, leaving both Hiruzen and Minato bewildered and concerned.

Minato turned to look at the Third Hokage, about to apologise on Yumetsuki's behalf as this really was not the kind of behaviour anyone would expect of the girl but Hiruzen held his hand up, stopping the blond before he could start with it.

"Don't, it's alright," Hiruzen told him. "I understand the situation – I realise that it was wrong of me to pressure her into a Jonin promotion so soon after she became a Chunin,"

"Sandaime-Sama..." Minato trailed off, but his head was facing the door that Yumetsuki had left ajar.

On the other side of the walls, Yumetsuki was running down the main street, wanting to rush off to the solitude of the forest. She dodged people, not wanting to talk to anyone or even stop for a second. She did not want to return back home, either, she wanted to be alone.

Yumetsuki turned around the corner and into the alleyway, taking it as a place where no one would be present. She turned another corner and took off down the stairs, looking to head down to the river where she knew she would be alone all day long.

But just as Yumetsuki had turned, her body made its contact with something – or rather someone – as she fell back from the sheer impact of it, hitting her head on the ground.

"Ouch!"

That yell came from the person in front of her, rubbing the back of their head as they, too, stumbled and fell back. Yumetsuki clutched the front of her head while she also tried to wipe out the tears that had invaded her eyes. It was difficult to see with the teary and blurry eyes.

It took Yumetsuki a moment before she realised that the person across from her was a very familiar black-haired boy, and what had hit her head were his orange goggles.

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Uchiha Obito as he noticed her. "Are you crying? I'm sorry, don't cry!"

"No," Yumetsuki replied, trying to clear her eyes. "No, I am not crying,"

"Then, what's going on?" asked Obito, genuinely appearing very concerned for her. "Are you okay?" He reached out to help her onto her feet quickly. "Up you go!"