sighed and took the next knife for the next try.
This one went completely wrong and the others weren't much better either. Yumi was disappointed in herself. She had the feeling that she would never get stronger. She looked down sadly.
"You're not holding the kunai quite right."
She felt a hand rest gently on her shoulder. She felt a sense of warmth. The hand came off her shoulder and another came in. They put the kunai in their little hand in a different way than they had before.
"The momentum has to come from the shoulder joint and always try to target the red dot. It doesn't matter if you don't hit it right away, but that way you will definitely come to the limit."
She took another deep breath, then shot the kunai at the target.Indeed, it hit the one in the yellow ring that framed the red dot. A radiant smile now ran through her face. The someone behind her stroked her head congratulatory.
"Well, the half hour is over. You can all go home now and if you want to practice a little more there. As you like. See you tomorrow."
Iruka's voice echoed across the square. But Yumi watched Sasuke, who was completely disappointed to have to finish the training now.
"Come on Yumi, we'll get him."
She turns and smiled at Itachi. He didn't smile back, but something flickered in his eyes. She could feel that he was proud of her. He just didn't show it openly. He took a step towards Sasuke, but then turned back to Yumi and held out his hand to her. Yumi took it. Itachi's hand was cool and yet she felt the warmth this gesture was supposed to convey. She was no longer alone, she was well taken care of and looked after. Basically, she had gained more than she had before. She had been an only child. And now she had two brothers. One is impartial and free, the other is concerned about her and is responsible. It was only two days since her village was raided and she was safe. It was as if she had always been here, at least that's how everyone acted. Was it meant seriously or just played? With Itachi she was sure he meant business. With her new parents she could not yet judge it very well. But anyway, she was just six years old, even if her seventh birthday was not far off.
For herself, the situation in Konoha was still a bit strange. Yumi wasn't sure how to deal with the other children. After all, they all already knew each other.
"See you tomorrow, Yumi."
Naruto ran past her and waved to her.
Well, she already had a potential boyfriend.
"Itachi, the school today was great, will we still practice afterwards?"
"Another time Sasuke", Itachi said and nudged his brother lightly on the forehead with two fingers.
"But why?"
Sasuke pouted a little and crossed his arms in front of his torso.
"I have to go back to my team later. But come on now, mother is waiting with the food and she also wants to go into town with Yumi afterwards."
Sasuke didn't seem really convinced, but he gave up asking. Apparently he had known this procedure for a long time and had to go through it with Itachi many times.
The whole way home he made no sound, not even when Itachi ruffled his hair with his free hand.
Mikoto stood on the veranda of the Uchiha estate and was already waiting for the three of them.
"There you are finally", she said with a smile, "How was it in the academy? And with you in your Itachi team?"
"Everything was as usual, but I have to go back straight away.I'll have something to eat later. "
Carefully he let go of Yumi's hand and gave the little one a smile, then quickly disappeared. Sasuke excitedly told his mother about the school and she nodded to him again and again in a friendly manner. When everyone was sitting at the lunch table and Sasuke had finished reporting about his day, Mikoto asked Yumi again.
"How did you like the day, Yumi?"
"It was very nice. But I think I was the only one who didn't know anything."
"Itachi will be training with you soon."
Fugaku, Yumi's new father, had spoken. At first he had something against taking her into his house, but now he seemed to have made friends with the situation.
"But then he trains me even less than he already has."
Sasuke was hurt and looked angry at Yumi. That was about Sasuke's friendliness. Yumi stared at her plate, should she decline the training so Itachi could train with Sasuke?
"We'll manage it Sasuke, you can also train with Yumi if Itachi doesn't have time. As soon as she is on your level, you can do the training with three people."
He clearly liked the variant better.
"I'm sorry Yumi."
"Is not bad."
The rest of lunch was calm. Fugaku got up very early and went on his way. He probably didn't have much to do with family. Not much later, Sasuke jumped up too.
"I'm going to train alone."
He didn't even wait for an answer or permission and disappeared out the door.
Yumi had finished eating too, but stayed at the table. Mikoto put the dishes aside and pulled on a thin jacket.
"Do you need anything else? If not, then we can go straight into town. At lunchtime there is not so much going on and we can take a look around."
"No, I don't need anything anymore."
She slid off her chair and ran to her mother. Mikoto did the same to Itachi and took her hand. It felt different from Itachi's. Her hand was warmer than his, but it did not radiate that warmth. It was just the protection factor that mattered and the intention of making Yumi feel like family. It wasn't spontaneous, it looked more like a plan.

So Mikoto and Yumi ran through the streets and rattled off many shops. They already had some items of clothing. Something like underwear, pants, and tops. However, her mother wanted to get something for more festive occasions.
And then Yumi was pulled into the next store. Actually she had been looking forward to this day, but it was more exhausting than she had thought. Mikoto went straight to the cash register and asked the woman about the range of clothes. Yumi was poked in the back by someone. She turned around in amazement and saw a pink-haired girl in front of her.
"Aren't you the new one in the village?"
"Yes, I am. My name is Yumi and you?"
"I am Sakura.My parents own this place. You live with Sasuke. Are you doing well, I would like to be with him. He's so cute. "
Yumi looked confused at Sakura. She didn't want to know what she thought of Sasuke at all. Why did this girl tell her this? Didn't she mind that Yumi could tell Sasuke right away?
"Yumi, I have a nice dress for you. Would you come over here, please?"
She forced herself to smile at Sakura again before turning around and walking to her mother. The dress was really nice. It had thin straps, went up to her knees and widened downward so it was very airy and loose. At the top and bottom it had small ruffles that made it look more noble.
The dress was the last purchase and it was very late. The sun was already going down, but gave both of them their last rays for a lighted way home.
When he got home, Mikoto immediately prepared dinner, which was eaten as quickly as it was served. Yumi noticed that Itachi wasn't there. Was he still with his team? Hopefully he would be back soon.
She decided to wait in his or her room.
She entered. In this room it felt like she was really at home. It was strange but familiar. Sighing, she leaned against a wall. It was dark, but she didn't feel like turning on the light. Why, she was just waiting anyway.
"You've been on the road for a long time."
Amazed, she looked in the direction from which the voice was coming. Itachi was sitting on his bed, she hadn't even noticed that he was there.
"Yes. That's right. But we found everything for that."
"Then that's fine. But mother is also very energetic in that regard. You must be exhausted."
"This is me."
She sighed again and lay face down on her own bed.
"And how was your day, brother?"
"As always. We have been training to prepare for upcoming missions. Tell me about your day."
"It was all very strange for me, I didn't know anything like that before. But I have the feeling that it will get better. I just wanted to ask you if you could train with me so that I can get on better at the academy."
"Father has already spoken to me about it. Of course I'll do it. We only have to involve Sasuke from time to time, otherwise he'll get jealous."
Yumi nodded with a smile. Actually, she hadn't expected anything other than approval. But you never knew and Itachi was also very busy, as she had already noticed.
"We could start on the weekend. I have enough time and you don't have to go to school either."
"Yes that would be good."
Itachi looked satisfied, not necessarily with himself, but more with his little sister. She had taken the blow of losing her family pretty well so far. And he hoped it would stay that way.It was clear to him that he would do everything possible just so that she could be happy again.
"If you have something on your mind, I'll be there for you Yumi."
Like the night before, he kissed her on the forehead before sleep fell on both of them.