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Ann grew as time went on. Zabuza didn’t need to use the drops with Mei any more. He did still leave the occasional note to her though, sort of like a “thank you,” but he never checked the spot for anything back.

Being almost four, Ann had become more aware of herself and what Zabuza does. Thankfully, Zabuza didn’t have another “ah ********” moment from her, but he was still mindful of not using stronger swears around her, especially when he started to train her.

It was tricky those first few training sessions, as he didn’t want anyone to see him bring her to and from home. But using the mist jutsu and varying when he'd take her out helped ease the feeling of being watched when he left his apartment for any reason. Today, they had left in the early hours of the morning, when it was still dark, and ventured out to the wooded area near the lake they usually trained at.
Ann~Zabi, what are we doing today?
Zabuza~How many times have I told you not to call me Zabi?
Ann~About a million times
She giggled
Zabuza~You're too…happy…You remind me of your mother…Her tantrums are starting to be like her outbursts too
Ann~So what? You're too grumpy
Zabuza~Ane always had to be like that too. Why can't she just be quiet for once?
Ann~Zabuza?
She walked up beside him and wrapped his arm around herself. He’d gotten used to this, because he had the strength to pull away if they were ever attacked. It also made sure she was close by, so it was another reason to allow the physical affection. There was a tactical advantage to this and not just because he was in denial.
Zabuza~We're gonna train again. You still have a lot to improve
Ann~Again? Okay...
She pouted as they got to their usual spot. Since she started to go out to train with him, it practically became the only thing they would do together outside of what's expected. Ann missed their quiet time together where she got to nap against him or even just near him as he wrote his paperwork. Even learning how to read and write had meant being closer to him.

Zabuza told her what basic forms she had to do for training, then he went by their things to watch her. He noticed the strength she'd try to exert, the small adjustments she made to try to mimic him perfectly. Ann had that ferocity that he and his sister had while training years ago, but there was control in her movements that he suspected came from her father.

After a while she was exhausted, but she kept going anyway just to show him what she thought he wanted to see. Her body had been aching, and now she started to see stars. And yet, she continued.
Zabuza~If you keep going like that, you'll pass out again. Her stamina is getting better the harder she trains, but why is she overdoing it?
Ann~Since when do you care? I'm not…going to–Not–this–time...
She collapsed out cold
Zabuza getting up~ *sigh* If I didn't know better I'd bet she does this on purpose...
He walked over to Ann to roll her onto her back, then he carried her bridal style back to their things. Along the way, she came to for a little bit already knowing that Zabuza was carrying her
Ann groaning~Zabuza...
She cuddled his side for a moment before passing out again.
Zabuza~She's still too much like a kid...She'll be out cold for hours too
He laid her down in the grass and took out a protein bar for himself
Zabuza~She has a lot of raw talent, Ane, just like us as kids. I'm going to need to push her to make sure she can handle herself.
He sighed at his own reluctance to make Ann into something other than a kid. But the time for her to leave will soon arrive. He had to make sure she could take care of herself, especially if she went against considerably stronger than herself. Because once it’s time, he won’t be there to protect her anymore. Maybe he should teach her a few jutsus now, maybe it would give him peace of mind somehow even with all his other worries.

As she slept, Zabuza went through the jutsus he knew. He settled on four water jutsus, maybe five depending on how easily she can pick up the first two or three. Now he had to figure out how to explain how to apply chakra theory to a toddler that can throw kunais. Ann was bright, but she inherited the Momochi's hard-headed stubbornness too.

A short while later Ann stirred awake. She sat up, looking around to re-orientate herself.
Zabuza~Are you gonna stay awake?
She jumped and quickly turned around, feeling some ache in her shoulders.
Zabuza~We'll work on survival instincts later. You're too slow to wake.
Ann pouted and made a face. Zabuza couldn't help but chuckle at how much of Ane he saw in the small child. He came over and pulled out an onigiri from their bag and handed it to her.
Zabuza~Eat. We're not yet done training.
Ann eating~What's next? Weapons?
Her eyes lit at the question.
Zabuza~Too much like us, Ane. Next time. You'll learn how to make water clones. What do you remember about chakra?
She thought for a moment, trying to remember what he told her from a week ago.
Ann~I remember you need it for jutsus…Ummm and if you run out you can die.
Zabuza~That's…*sigh* Yeah. Those are two important points about chakra. There's more theoretical aspects to utilize it effectively though.
She stared at him blankly. Apparently that was too many big words. Zabuza pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed again.
Zabuza~This is gonna take forever.

After eating, Zabuza reviewed the 12 different hand signs with proper finger placement. Teaching her to build chakra was a challenge that turned into yelling at each other and Ann getting a smack on the back of her head. He tried ignoring the deja vu he felt from it all. It was a lifetime ago when Ane was in his place, teaching him the same jutsu. He wanted to give Ann the praise she deserved for learning the technique so young, but he couldn’t. The words just wouldn’t come. Maybe it never would.

Zabuza~show me once more
Ann made the hand signs again and a single clone formed completely, no signs of leaking and no imperfections. It took hours just to figure out she could knead her chakra easily when she was frustrated, and it took even longer for the clones to stay solid. This was the first one that didn't split at the joints after a few moments.
Zabuza~That could actually pass for a clone. It didn't disintegrate this time.
Ann~Really?
She smiled, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Zabuza~Don't let it get to your head. It's still sloppy. Come rest now or you'll faint again
Ann~Okay…
She pouted and released her control over the clone. Then she sat next to him, resting her head against him just to wipe her sweat off his sleeve. Ann couldn't quite figure out why his praises annoyed her. He said she did good, but it didn’t sound like she performed good enough. His follow-ups always felt like she should have more to offer him, or more to show off. It made her want to retaliate sometimes because of it. Never verbal thought, something physical because that felt expected. Safe even.

Zabuza scoffed at her for thinking he wouldn't notice what she did. He'd get her back for it later. It was well past lunch time now, and he needed to make sure she had enough calories for their training. So, he grabbed two bento boxes and gave one to Ann.
Zabuza~Eat up, brat.
She grunted at him and started eating. He watched her eat, noticing she wiped her mouth with her palm like Ane. Zabuza knew he had to tell her. He taught her the basic concept of family by definition, but Ann only knew him as her guardian. A ping of guilt always pulled at him when she looked ready to tell him something then decided not to. Maybe now was as good a time as any
Zabuza~I think you're old enough to know now...
Ann~Know what?
Zabuza~That I'm your uncle
Ann~My uncle?
Zabuza~Yeah
She studied his face, her brow furrowing together. She watched him continue eating, expecting him to say more. Anything. Maybe how they were related even. But he said nothing more, and the frustration made her snap.
Ann~That's all you can say?! If you are my uncle then why do you treat me like this? I thought family loved each other! But all you do is ******** around and act like I'm not enough!
She looked around for something to throw at him, and finally settled on throwing the bento. He swatted it away. Ann thought about throwing something else at him, but instead turned away from him, her frustration turning into quiet angry tears. She couldn't exactly run off to lock herself in the bathroom to be alone, so she was stuck with him.
Zabuza~ *sigh* She isn't wrong. I wish I could do more…But…You're not yet able to understand why…Ann…
Ann~W-why're you still here?....
Zabuza~Because I don't want you running away…
Ann~That's stupid…
Zabuza~It's complicated…
Ann~Really stupid…
She curled tighter. Zabuza reached out, hesitant, and slowly rubbed her back. Ann is usually the one to initiate affection. If he did it, it was because she was asleep to NOT witness it.
Zabuza~I don't want you hurt. There's a lot of danger.
Ann~Really ******** stupid…
He resisted the urge to smack her, so he continued to rub her back. If she does it a third time he might have to discipline her for it.
Zabuza~Fine. I…It hurts…You're my sister's kid. You're a lot like her…I'm doing everything I can to protect you from something she thought would hurt us…Especially you
Ann~What's gonna hurt us?...
Zabuza~I don't know still…
Ann~Do you know anything about my dad?
Zabuza~He's…reserved…
Ann~What does that mean?
She moved closer to him. Zabuza put his arm around her, unsure of himself to keep his own emotions in check.
Zabuza~He keeps to himself. Doesn't say a lot.
Ann~Like you?
She elbowed his side.
******** brat…We're nothing alike…
He glared at her when he saw her smirk
Zabuza softly ~Anything else you want to ask?
She stayed quiet to think. Then looked up at him, more tears welling up at her eyes
Ann~Do you hate me?
Zabuza~No...Ann, I…
Zabuza wished he was stabbed instead. It would've hurt less than seeing that doubt in her eyes.
Zabuza~I don't hate you…You're just…
Her eyes were a soft shade of red, clearly inherited from Auron, but the look in them reminded him of Ane. Something still innocent hadn't broken yet.
Zabuza~You're my kid, Ann. I…I care a lot about you.
He couldn't say it. It was three simple words. And he couldn't say it when she needed to hear it.
Ann~Do…do you even love me?...
He groaned internally. He couldn't say it. So he hoped the best he could do was enough.
Zabuza~I do, Ann…I really do…
Ann~Okay…I…I love you too, Zabi…