An Unexpected Friend (Book 1 of the Unexpected Series)

Ch. 5 - The Good and the Bad

"She is blooming with the power of youth, my eternal rival!" Gai said as he gave Kakashi a thumbs-up.

"That's because he's the best dad in the world!" Kokoro shouted. Kakashi wanted to hit his face with his hand so badly. Gai and his daughter were a bad mixture only because Gai's presence seemed to energize Kokoro. He hoped she lost all of that energy when they got home later or else he was sure to suffocate from giddiness. He let his despair leave him as Kokoro's words registered in his head. He was filled with immense happiness and love, though none of it showed on his face.

"You are correct, young Kokoro!" Gai said.

"Should I even ask what you're doing here?" Kakashi asked him.

"I have come to challenge you!"

Kokoro grabbed the dark strands of Gai's bowl-cut hair and tugged hard. Gai let out an unceremonious shriek and bounced around. He tried to pry her hands away from his hair but was unsuccessful. Kokoro let go of his hair, only to bonk him on the head.

"There's no way my dad will lose to you again!" Kokoro shouted.

"Kokoro," Kakashi exhaled, "Please stop tormenting Gai." Then, he turned to Gai and said, "Same as usual?"

Gai placed Kokoro on the ground and nodded his head sharply. Kokoro watched them intently, waiting for them to announce the challenge. The few times she saw them challenge each other always involved racing to some destination. Last time, they raced from the Hokage Tower to the main gates, and the time before that, they had raced from the Academy to the Dango Shop.

Kokoro's anticipation turned sour when she watched as her grown dad danced about with Gai before throwing out a closed fist. Gai shouted in defeat when he realized he had thrown out scissors. Kokoro was happy her dad won, but at what cost? He had made a fool in front of her and she was never going to let it go. She marched up to the two adults and unexpectedly punched their stomachs. The two fools hunched over in pain. Kakashi almost lost his grip on his groceries.

"You're so embarrassing, dad," Kokoro said with a scowl. "Why can't you act your age?"

"Everyone brims with youth until they die!" Gai yelled after he recovered after her attack.

"Yeah, well I'm feeling really youthful right now," Kokoro said with a mischievous smirk. Kakashi sighed and grabbed Kokoro's hand to drag her away from Gai.

"This is why I don't let you babysit," he told Gai before he transported away.

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Gaara,

I finally mastered my water manipulation! It was hard after mastering my wind manipulation because directing water was completely different than directing my wind nature, but I finally did it! Dad says I can learn some new water jutsus soon. And then after that, he's gonna show me how to manipulate lightning! Isn't that cool? Dad says I should work on my taijutsu more than my ninjutsu because my taijutsu stinks, but I get bored with taijutsu practice. He threatened me and said he'd make me train with Gai (y'know the weird guy I told you about in the last letter), but I think he's bluffing.

I miss you so much Gaara. Dad says to never give up, but sometimes I feel like we'll never get to talk again! I just hope you're having as much fun as I am. No matter how sad I feel about this, I'll never give up on you, Gaara! Speaking of friends, I made a new one! His name is Choji! Some kids were bullying him about his weight and I stopped them because it's not nice to make fun of people. He thanked me and then he introduced me to his friend, Shikamaru. I like hanging out with them cause it's so peaceful. Shikamaru likes to watch clouds, so that's what we do most of the time.