Hey everyone I know it's been a while (a very, very long while) and I am so sorry for the wait. The reason I have been gone for so long is that I wanted to improve the fanfiction and put forward my best work. This leads me to the good news... I got a beta! They offered to help me get this story to the place I know it can be and we're currently in the process of editing each chapter. I will post(well technically it's replace) each chapter immediately after it's finished being tweaked. Nothing major has been changed; the plot is still the same.
So with all that being said it will be a while before I post chapter 6. Hopefully I'll have this story done by the end of the year/early next year.
All chapters that have been edited will have "Beta: sovandprins" after the disclaimer as well as the note will most likely have me excitedly announcing another chapter has been polished and ready for your enjoyment.
Anyway, for anyone who is reading this for the first time this is a five part series and Hashirama and Mito are written as Tsunade's parents here.
I hope you enjoy. :)
Disclaimers: I don't own Naruto.
Beta : sovandeprins
Tsunade remembers that when she was a little girl, she got to visit a small community quite some distance away from Konoha City with her father. The town was tucked between Tottori and Shimane, bordering the ocean which invited a potent yet calming scent of sea salt to waft through the streets.
Tsunade accompanied her father by request of her mother, as she wanted her to see the village in which she grew up in. Sadly, her mom had to stay in Konoha when she fell ill the day before they had all planned the travel to Uzushio. Mito insisted that Tsunade still went along with her father, despite her own mother's absence since she would rarely get such an opportunity to leave the city. "I know you'll love it there", Mito had whispered to her before she left.
She was very grateful to her mom for insisting she went because she really had liked it there.
Since arriving, her father decided they would have some time to explore the town before he had to appear at his meeting. Tsunade enjoyed this decision greatly because when they did get there, she knew she would be stuck waiting outside the office for an hour with a bodyguard, bored until her father was finished.
As it was Tsunade's first time travelling outside of Konoha, she felt mesmerized by all the different people and the new values that came along with it. The town was simpler with its small buildings, cobblestone walkways, and a peaceful atmosphere as opposed to the concrete skyscrapers and congested streets of Konoha. Her father held her hand as they walked through the village and she had looked around curiously at the many unique shops with a variety of charms and at the people who all had vibrant hair colours, ranging from deep reds to bright yellows. Everyone seemed to be friendly, smiling at the little five-year-old girl who pointed in wonder at all the new things around her, intrigued by everything that came into sight.
Her father, being the leader of the prosperous Konoha, had an important business meeting with the head of Uzushio to talk about their continued trade and friendly relations.
While they were walking down the street, something sparkling caught her eyes. She looked over her shoulder and saw an elderly woman sitting behind a stand. On it were assortments of jewellery, one of which was a crystal necklace. It stood out thanks to its charming blue colour and shone brightly where the sun rested on its surface. Tsunade stopped walking, absolutely transfixed.
Hashirama also stilled, as he felt the slightest resistance in the hand he was holding. He looked back to see what his daughter was doing and followed her eyes to the elderly woman's stand. A smile pulled at the corners of his lips.
Tsunade was eagerly trying to pull her father towards the stall, but before they could make it there one of their guards spoke in low tones into his ear. He looked down at her with an apologetic smile. Hashirama bent down to look into her brown eyes and held back a chuckle at the annoyed pout Tsunade made, her insistent tugging never faltering.
"Hime-chan", her pulling ceased just a bit and Hashirama spoke gently to her. "Remember, I have a meeting to go to. We can come back and look at whatever you like over there later", he finished his sentence while gently hoisting her up into his arms. She started protesting in his hold but a gentle squeeze of her hand and a kiss to her cheek – a silent promise of their return, made her calm down a bit.
However, she couldn't help but look back at the blue crystal on the table wistfully.
Tsunade was bored, impatiently waiting for her father's meeting to finish. It had already been over two hours, maybe even more, but her father had yet to exit the office. Her bodyguard, Kawarama, had tried to keep her entertained but had given up after a half hour when he realized that Tsunade would rather stare restlessly at the door or out of the waiting room doorway instead of playing.
Kawarama was Hashirama's younger brother and one of the appointed body guards for both individuals while they were out of Konoha. Their other bodyguard, Toka, was not in the waiting room with them for she chose to monitor the entryway of their current room and the hall beyond it.
Tsunade looked out the window and noticed that the sun was starting to set, casting beautiful hues of rose and tangerine on the houses outside. All she wanted to do was go back out there and find the elderly lady, who's necklace she was so engrossed over.
Her head snapped to the right when she heard the door open and soft laughter greeted her ears. She watched as her father and a venerable white-haired man bid their farewells to each other. The Uzushio mayor waved to her briefly, of which she returned politely, before retreating into the boardroom. Tsunade rushed over to her father, took hold of his hand, and pulled him towards the exit. He gave out a low chuckle.
"Slow down, Hime-chan."
Tsunade didn't look back but replied nonetheless, "We have to hurry – she might be gone already!" With that, she pulled her father with as much strength as she could out the door and soon onto the streets. The sound of her father and body guards' amused laugher didn't veer her.
Tsunade remembered how much she was sulking when they had gotten back to the market and the woman, along with the necklace, were nowhere in sight. She had turned to her father with tears in her eyes only for him to pick her up and start with his regular silly antics to cheer her up. Hashirama pulled his cheeks in and moved his lips up and down - the perfect imitation of a fish which Tsunade usually found ridiculously funny, especially when the other proceeded to kiss her forehead and cheek with puckered lips. But, Tsunade didn't even smile at the attempt and refused to giggle when her father's hand moved to lightly tickle her sides. Sadly, all his attempts failed as Tsunade was far too disappointed to play along.
"Excuse me?"
Hashirama paused with Tsunade still held in his arms. Kawamura and Toka stopped in their tracks on either side of them. The old lady from the market exited a small shop with a friendly smile that reached her eyes. Tsunade's face brightened as she instantly recognized the woman and so she wiggled out of her father's hold to run over to her. Hashirama and Kawarama followed closely behind.
The lady smiled kindly at her, "Did you come back for what you saw this morning?" she inquired.
The blonde girl nodded eagerly and told her about the blue crystal necklace, how she really, really had wanted it. Behind her, Hashirama made a step to protest – 'Hime-chan, you can't demand such a thing' – but the woman smiled kindly at both of them before standing up straight again. She paused for some time, thinking, before asking them all to wait outside while she went and got something. When she returned she was holding a box containing multiple different jewellery, which she held low and close to Tsunade.
On top of everything in the box laid the sea blue crystal necklace. It was attached to a black string with two small, silver balls on the either side. The adults present looked inside the box and Hashirama was the first to react.
"Oh, Hime-chan, it's very pretty", her father gushed while he knelt to Tsunade's height and palmed her shoulders.
The old lady's reaction was a bright smile as she carefully shifted the box to one hand and picked up the necklace with the other. "This is one of my favourites", she remarked and held the crystal up higher, making the street lights shine on it. It twinkled beautifully. "And it's very special too."
The tone of her voice caught both father's and daughter's attention, but Kawarama narrowed his eyes sceptical at the old lady's words.
"The crystal itself is very old, older than even I am", she continued. "But that is not what makes it so unique." The woman paused as though for dramatic effect.
"This necklace can bring you great luck."
Tsunade brown eyes widened in awe as she stared at the blue gem. Hashirama chuckled softly at the woman's words but said nothing to disagree with her. Kawarama doubted it but, he also kept quiet, not wanting to be the one to destroy Tsunade's childlike view on the world.
Children need to believe in something.
"Really?" Tsunade replied breathlessly as she looked up at the elderly lady. The woman seemed so genuine and the conviction in the lady's words had both Hashirama and Kawarama wondering if the woman truly believed the words she spoke.
"Yes, little one, it can bring the owner of it immense luck." Tsunade peered up at her father with a silent plea in her eyes, then glanced back to the woman with the same begging gaze.
Hashirama exchanged glances with his brother, as they realized the little blonde was now thoroughly beguiled by the idea of this so called 'lucky crystal necklace'. It would be hard to convince her to leave it behind. The woman's voice immediately grabbed their attention with what she said next.
"If you like it so much, then you may have it", she said while handing the necklace over to Tsunade, then quickly added "Free of charge", when she saw Hashirama about to protest.
The two adult males frowned at her while the little girl positively beamed at her, the necklace now in her tiny hands. The woman could see the questions in their eyes when they looked at her.
Her lips quirked up again, but just slightly.
"I hope it will bring you more luck than it ever brought me."
When they returned to Konoha the next afternoon, Tsunade was quick in making her way up to her parents' bedroom. She wanted to tell her mother about all the things she saw in Uzushio
She opened the door and saw her mother's oddly pale face turn to her from her sitting position. Mito immediately smiled upon seeing Tsunade enter the room.
"Kaa-san!" was the exclamation she heard before being enveloped in a warm, loving hug.
"Welcome back Tsunade! Did you enjoy the trip?" she asked her daughter. Tsunade burrowed herself into her mother's chest and held on to her tightly. Mito giggled at the cute display of affection and glanced up when she heard a huff at the door. Her husband was leaning on the doorframe, pouting at them.
"Why don't I get a hug like that from Hime-chan when I come back from trips?" he complained lightly. Tsunade giggled wholeheartedly at this and Mito looked at her husband in amusement but said nothing, choosing to ignore her husband's childishness for the time being. She heard another huff from the door and suppressed a wide smile.
"Kaa-san?", Tsunade called while she lightly pulled at her mother's sleeve.
"What is it?", Mito questioned, seeing the excitement in her eyes.
Tsunade pulled away from her and Mito looked at the small blonde curiously when she dug her hands into her pockets. Tsunade held out her fisted hands, then slowly unfolded them.
In her palms laid the necklace.
"I got this at the market!"
Mito gently took the item into her hands for further inspection. "It's beautiful Tsu-chan. Did your father buy it for you?"
Tsunade shook her head wildly and so Mito looked to her husband for an explanation. He crossed the room and answered before Tsunade could.
"Actually, a lady generously gave the necklace to Hime-chan. She said it would bring her luck", he ran a hand through his long brown hair uncomfortably when she raised an eyebrow at him. "I couldn't say no to her", he gestured to Tsunade.
Before Mito could comment, Tsunade spoke up happily.
"The nice lady said it brings lots of good luck and that she hopes it brings me some too!" She smiled brightly, and her cheeks dusted with a light pink as she continued. "But I want you to have it, Kaa-san."
Both parents stared at the little girl in surprise. Mito was the first to respond to her.
"And why are you going to give it to me?" she inquired curiously. The blush on Tsunade's face went away a bit and worry blossomed onto her features.
"Because Kaa-san keeps getting sick, and sometimes you're in bed all day because you can't get out." Tsunade moved closer to her again. "I want you to be better, so you should have the necklace and get good luck." she said that as if she believed this little piece of jewellery could make everything better and, in truth, it really had seemed like that at the time.
Both Mito and Hashirama looked speechless at her explanation. They glanced at each other briefly, at a loss for what to say, before looking down at Tsunade. Then, finally, to the crystal necklace. Mito closed her hand around it and looked up to her daughter's smiling face with a smaller one of her own.
"Thank you, Tsunade-chan. I hope it brings me luck too."
Her response appeared as though it was exactly what the little girl wanted to hear. She threw herself into her mother's embrace and closed her eyes.
Mito was anything but calm, though, and her expression of worry was met with an equally worried but confused gazed from Hashirama. He shrugged, indicating he had not known the necklace had been for her originally.
Both parents gazed down at the small blonde who looked like she was ready to doze off. Mito's arms tightened around Tsunade slightly as her thoughts started drifting to her frequent sickness.
A large hand gently squeezed hers.
Mito looked up to her husband as he sombrely took a seat next to her, offering her a reassuring smile. She turned her hand over, letting the crystal fall from them onto the sheets and held his hand, squeezing back.
All of them hoped for more than just luck to allow them to have more time together.
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Until next time...