Tsunade Senju, age 35, was currently gawking. Why would she be, and more importantly why would it matter?

It all started out with the sun rising, Tsunade was currently gallivanting around the country in celebration and depression. Celebration due to the 3rd Shinobi War finally coming to a close thanks to Jiraiya's brat Minato and depression due to the reminder that even when the war was done and over with, she was still alone. Her brother, lover, parents, grandparents, granduncle and whatnot were all dead.

During said gallivanting, Tsunade came across a sight she had seen only twice in her life. She was currently in the Yu no Kuni, planning on enjoying some well deserved time to rest, relax, sulk and get smashed. As she entered one of the hot springs that the country was so aptly named for that she came across the rare sight.

A woman, or at least this better be in the woman else there will be issue's, likely in her late twenties with hair so red it reminded her of blood. The only people she knew with such hair were her belated grandmother Mito and her little protégé Kushina. Both were born and bred Uzumaki.

Which meant this woman was likely an Uzumaki. Which meant, however distant, she was related to this woman in front of her.

Now Tsunade was generally not the type of person to strike up a conversation, especially when sharing a bath with a stranger. But damnit! Relatives were relatives!

"So… You from around here?"

The crimson haired woman jumped slightly before turning her eyes upon Tsunade. If Tsunade was only curious before she now knew factually that this woman was an Uzumaki based on those violet eyes. It was also obvious the woman was pregnant based on that baby bump.

"…No, I'm just stopping by here for the week before heading to Mizu."

"Mizu? Why would you want to go there? Hell! Kumo is better than Mizu and they spent half the war trying to steal Bloodlines!"

The Uzumaki narrowed her eyes and gave Tsunade a once-over, "You are a very rude person, has anybody told you that? Telling me about where I should and shouldn't go without even giving a name."

Tsunade blinked, scowled then snorted in a matter of a second, "Tsunade Senju."

"Toka Uzumaki."

"Thought so, Uzumaki have very distinctive traits."

"Whether or not my departed clan has 'distinctive traits' is irrelevant. What is relevant though is why you feel where I go is you concern." Her eye's narrowed into slits and muscles tensed, like she was expecting an attack.

Tsunade shrugged, sinking further into the hotspring's water, "You're an Uzumaki. There's only one other I know of and she's… 18 or 19 if memory serves. Our clans were close before everything happened and honestly? I'm asking because relatives are rare."

Toka blinked slowly before she gave a sigh, "I don't know if it's because of this buzz or this wonderful water but fine, it's not like it's a secret or anything. I'm heading to Mizu to give birth and force this kid on his father before I head off on my way."

This was a concept Tsunade couldn't get her head around entirely, "So… You're pregnant, but you don't want the kid… So you're offing it to Mizu for some reason? Do you know the likelihood that you'll find the kids father in such a huge place?"

Toka gave a shrug, "I know who the father is, Raiga Kurosuki; an apprentice to the current wielder of the Kiba Blades. I admit I shouldn't have lain with the man, but his master - who might I add was much more attractive - offered me good money to get rid of his virginity. He didn't trust whores or the like due to diseases and Raiga himself apparently liked my hair. In any case, after that happened I noticed I hadn't had my monthly when I normally did. One thing led to another and I learned I was pregnant."

Tsunade was trying hard not to groan. So this Toka whored herself out and turned out pregnant. That wasn't a big deal, people got pregnant with bastards commonly; at least it didn't happen by force. But really… Did this woman think this Raiga character would take a child when he was likely to either kill her or tell her to piss off?

"You do know he likely won't care either way… right?"

Toka seemed to take that comment in stride as she melted further into the spring, "I know, but the moment that I learned I was pregnant, and let me add I hadn't had sex for nearly 5 months since Raiga, it was obvious who the father was. And I promised myself I wouldn't bother with kids since every village and their mothers want Uzumaki kids for whatever reason. I'd rather spend my days just wandering, occasionally getting some fun in a bar before hitting my next stop, y'know?"

And Tsunade did, partially at least. She herself was the last Senju, and she was constantly pressured by her village to have a kid to continue the clan. The idea of children never bothered her, what did bother her is the father. She always envisioned herself starting a family with her late lover Dan. When he died, so too did any desire to have children. Still, she wasn't to type of woman to go clubbing and having one night stands like Toka apparently did, but she could understand the sentiment.

"Why don't you just give birth in Konoha? The Uzumaki have always been held in great respect there. Even if you never have another child shouldn't you try to make sure it has a decent future?"

Toka offered a shrug, "It is the way of my clan that if we are pregnant outside of marriage to seek out the father, regardless of status. True Kurosuki-san likely won't want the child, but at least I'd be doing right by my clan."

Tsunade stared at Toka, and damn did she stare hard before groaning. Damn her for having a heart, "Yeah, no."

"Hmm?"

"I'm not letting you bring a child, one of my few relatives left, to such an early death. Give birth with me around; I'm not the world's top medic for nothing. Once it's born I'll take it to Konoha and see if Kushina, the other Uzumaki I told you about, is interested."

Toka stared at Tsunade, until she abruptly stood out of the water, baby bump and all, grabbed a towel to protect her modestly and began to head out, "Honestly, I don't care who you are but I won't let you get in the way of my clan's tradition!"

Tsunade copied Toka by getting up herself, her assets jiggling with the motion, "Oh? Fine, let's talk clan. Toka, before the Uzu got sacked what was your station in the clan?"

She was wrapping the towel around herself, glaring at Tsunade but answering anyways, "My father was the secondary branch head to the Barrier corps."

"Right, that makes things easy. I am Tsunade Senju, granddaughter to Mito Uzumaki, a former heiress of Uzu. Kushina Uzumaki, the woman I mentioned in Konoha, is the current head of you family and it is your duty as a member of your clan to inform your head about your child. I am offering to do that in your stead provided that you allow me to help you give birth."

Toka stared and stared hard. Finally after what seemed like an internal debate her shoulders sagged and she nodded. This was such a nice day too until the Senju came around. All she planned to do was relax in the spring before heading back to her hotel room. Now she had to go with the tradition she was using to escape clan bylaws in order to give birth. Damn politics.

And idea came to her, evil yes, but really this bitch ruined her plan, "Fine, but I have a condition since you're forcing me into all this when we haven't known each other for an hour."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow but nodded, "Let's hear it."

"You're the things Godmother. Congratz~." Toka then skipped, skipped, out of the bath, intent to escape the now wide-eyed Senju.

Toka had been pregnant for 6 months. Somehow she suckered Tsunade into becoming her traveling partner for the other 3 months of her pregnancy. During these months they generally just wandered around Yu no Kuni. Toka apparently hadn't planned on leaving for Mizu until she was on her 8th month anyways.

Tsunade for her part had just grit her teeth in annoyance for the first week of this. Though she eventually let up and struck a proper friendship with Toka Uzumaki. The friendship itself started out rough, naturally, but it grew into something akin to a pseudo-sisterhood in the aspect of how much they could annoy and tolerate eachother. Toka was an only child so she relished the idea while Tsunade never had a close female friend, so while yes Toka was a bitch, she was also a breath of fresh air in comparison to the village and the war.

It was this moment that was important. Toka's water had broken whilst they were on the south-eastern foothold of Yu no Kuni. A fitting place since it was at the border to Uzu. They were lucky enough to be in a fishing village at the time, they rented out a hotel room for 2 days and got to work.

5 hours later on July the 7th, a boy with a small tuft of red hair was born.

"Raiga…" Toka said weakly, she was tired and in immense pain and currently holding the newly dubbed Raiga to her breast. There was a problem with the birth and she had to have a C-section, her stomach was undergoing the process of being healed by Tsunade at the moment, "His name will be Raiga Uzumaki"

Tsunade offered a humorless chuckle as she continued to work on Toka's stomach, "Why name him after his father?"

"Tradition." Was her simple statement, "It is tradition that if that father doesn't- ow- doesn't know about the child, it will be given the father's name so it-he has reason to seek him out."

Old traditions were preached by Toka and Tsunade had come to ignore most of the spew that came out of the younger womans mouth when it came to them. Some traditions were ridiculous and not worth mentioning, but Toka decided it was her duty to constantly go with some traditions and break others.

She was a woman with both strong and loose morals; an oxymoron in many cases.

"Tsunade…"

Tsunade was nearly done with the post-pregnancy healing so she could afford some distraction, "hmm?"

"You know how you said I needed to... present Raiga-chan here to my clan head right?"

She wasn't listening entirely to Toka, but she knew this was likely to be annoying, "Yeah? What about it?"

Though Toka was tired she smiled quite smugly, "Tradition states that I can't present my clan head my child until the child is 5; the age we learn our first bits of Fuinjutsu."

Tsunade just groaned while she worked, "And you didn't mention this why?"

"Because that'd give you time to come up with a different plan! No, now that Raiga-chan is born you're stuck with me for another 5 years!" She cackled lightly before coughing. It ruined the image but the annoyance in Tsunade was apparent.

Time passed and Toka and Tsunade had fallen into a routine. Toka performed her duty as a mother, no matter how loudly she proclaimed she regretted it and was responsible for the feeding of Raiga and making sure Tsunade didn't lose all their joint money gambling. Tsunade was responsible for medical care, naturally, and after losing a bet with Toka became the main diaper changer much to her chagrin.

Raiga himself was a very smart child they noticed. He had hair much like his mothers, though a lighter shade of red, his skin tone was darker than Toka's but not nearly as dark as his father, more along the lines of a proper combination, and amber eyes that were not from Toka or his father; it was assumed they were the same color of an ancestor. He only cried when his diaper needed to be changed or when he was hungry. Whenever he wanted something he always clapped at whatever it was and wiggled his fingers

Tsunade had performed many small tests on Raiga as he grew up and determined that he was under the category of genius. This was both a good and bad thing, for it meant he would be a natural with in Shinobi arts, but it also meant that the moment they returned to Konoha he'd be inlisted in the Academy and likely graduate soon after. She herself graduated at the age of 6 along with Jiraiya and Orochimaru during wartime pushes, but it was an experiment of the newly formed Academy and they weren't made into Chunin till 4 years later. It was never a good thing when a child was graduated early without peers the same age. The Sannin were not the sanest bunch, and she had no issue admitting that fact.

Time had passed for the strange trio until 3 years had come and gone. It was currently October 11 and they were in Gana no Gai, a border town in Taki no Kuni. Tsunade herself had not changed, though that was due to the fact that she refused to allow herself to show age and hid herself under a Genjutsu. Toka had grown older and shown it with the smallest wrinkles on the corners of her eyes. Raiga had begun reading and was beginning to speak in complete sentences, much to his mother and godmothers surprise.

It was a lazy day for them. Tsunade and Raiga were relaxing in an inn lobby whilst Toka was at a bar looking for a quick lay. Though she became a mother, Toka never gave up her tendencies, and when she had an itch Raiga became Tsunade's main company much to their mutual annoyance. Raiga, due to his uncanny sharpness understood slightly that his mother was doing something bad and Tsunade because she preferred to drink instead of babysit; at least Raiga was an easy child to sit.

An hour had passed and Toka returned with a pout on her face, "There weren't any decent lookers, and aside from a few Takigakure Shinobi none were worth the time." She had come to a personal conclusion that Shinobi had the most potent sperm. Thus, in order to ensure she had no more children she avoided sleeping with any of them.

Tsunade offered a grin "At least I don't have to hear about you complain about the bad sex." Tsunade herself wasn't the biggest fan of sex. She was willing to have it with the right people, and in the 3 years she had travelled with Uzumaki family had only lain with one man, who she only slept with due to a lost bet. Say what you will on her gambling habits but when she makes a bet that has nothing to do with money she always pulls through on them.

Toka offered a shrug, taking a seat next to Tsunade. She then picked Raiga up, placed him in her lap and played with his hair, "It's just an itch, we can't all be like you and not have an interest in the carnal delights."

Tsunade shuddered at that phrase, that was how Jiraiya spoke of sex, "Please don't talk like that, it honestly creeps me out-"

She was cut off from a summoning seal going off directly on her table. Katsuyu, Tsunade's personal summon appeared, "Tsunade-hime, terrible news has happened in Konoha."

Tsunade blinked, Katsuyu rare ever came to her without sacrifice of blood or chakra, whatever happened was serious, "What happened Katsuyu?"

"The Kyuubi no Yoko attacked Konoha yesterday, I only learned recently from Gamabunta-kun. Minato, his summoner and the Yondaime-sama died in order to seal it into an infant."

Tsunade gaped, along with Toka whilst Raiga looked at Katsuyu in wonder, "But the Kyuubi was…"

Tsunade was one of the few people aware of the fact that Kushina held the Kyuubi. Her grandmother informed her about the Bijuu and her status as a Jinchuriki before the seal transferred to Kushina. If the Kyuubi got out then that meant that Kushina was either dead or near it.

"Toka." She said in her harshest tone, "I need to head to Konoha. Stay here with Raiga and I'll be back in a few days."

"How do I know you'll come back?" Toka was nothing if not blunt and she had reason to worry. Tsunade was her benefactor as well as the godmother of her child. The issue however was Tsunade was forced into both positions. Toka considered herself Tsunade's burden internally, though she'd never admit to it.

Tsunade stared at Toka with an unreadable expression; did she really think her to be so low? True they'd never spoken openly about their friendship, but it was one of the strongest bonds she'd ever held. She grunted to herself, removed her necklace and placed it over Toka's head, much to the mothers shock, "This is your proof. I'll come back for this."

"B-b-but this is your most prized possession!-"

"And it's proof I'll come back. This is serious Toka, I don't have time to pussyfoot around. My village was sacked by a Bijuu, I'm needed." Tsunade turned her attention to Katsuyu, "Katsuyu, I need you to head over to the village ahead of me and heal anybody that you can."

"Hai, Tsunade-hime." She poofed away with that.

Tsunade ran out of the inn using speeds she hadn't bothered with for years.

Toka was busying herself with Raiga doing nothing of importance. It had been a day since Tsunade left and she was slowly growing accustomed to time away from the woman she had begun to view as a sister. Ever since Raiga had been born, they had never been away from each other for more than half a day.

Still, it was dreadfully boring with just Raiga around. Though she didn't care for him properly at first, Raiga had grown on her. She was originally cold to her son for existing. It took her the first year of his life when he spoke "Kaa-cha" that she became a proper mother, who could turn down such a smart boy? It wasn't like it was an issue, before Tsunade came around her entire goal was to give birth, show the then unnamed infant to Raiga Kurosuki and let him decide what to do. If he accepted it was his child but didn't want him, she'd bring it to an orphanage. If he took the child, all was well. If he wanted the child's death, it was his decision, but also his duty as the father to swing the blade.

Tsunade was kind enough to give her a smack to the face in reality that that was just cruel, and the fact that was tradition was likely due to the small size of Uzu and anybody that had a bastard was well known on the island.

Toka forgot that fact.

Still, Raiga was a good son. He was smart, Tsunade said he was a genius, so she couldn't wait to show him off to Kushina-sama; it was the pride of any parent to have a child that the clan head approved of.

Currently she was giving Raiga a bath in her hotel sink. Tsunade had left, so she could splurge a little; namely by renting a hotel room for the week. The last time she and Tsunade stayed at a hotel was when Toka herself won at gambling enough to override the difference Tsunade lost; something that has never happened since.

Raiga was splashing around lightly while she rinsed his hair, he had good hair she noted. Fairly straight but fluffy enough that it would spike lightly if he were to grow it out. His eyes were a piercing amber as well, and she supposed it was a good thing he primarily took after herself. Much that she didn't think about it, Raiga Kurosuki was not what one would consider handsome. Her Raiga it seemed would be a proper looker in the future.

"Kaa-chan! Suds 'n eyes!" She blinked at him, smiling lightly as she grabbed a towel and washed his eyelids and face.

As she finished bathing him she took notice of the only irregularity on his small body. A birthmark on the back of his left hand that had no inherent shape, but if one looked close enough it looked akin to a snake according to Tsunade; Toka just thought it was a squiggly line.

She put him in his toddler clothes and headed to the hotel lobby, intent on grabbing supper before sleeping early. As she made her down the stairs to the lobby, for her room was on the 3rd floor, her path was blocked by a trio of Taki Shinobi.

The Shinobi looked her over and grinned visciously, "Oi Suien! Check out the babe!"

She noted that the leader of the group that nameless grunt called out for looked feral in a way, his eyes were quite small and he wore his hair much like a mane.

He looked Toka over with a grin before his small eyes widened and his grin turned maniacal, "You're an Uzumaki ain'cha?"

She held his gaze evenly, shifting Raiga in her arms slightly as she did, "It's possible, does it matter?"

"It might, what's your name?"

"Toka." She paused for a moment before smiling softly at the bundle in her arms that Suien just noticed, "And this is Raiga."

Raiga mumbled a "hello"

Suein licked his lips, "Uzumaki be the lot that're good at Fuinjutsu, aye?"

She nodded slightly, perhaps he needed aid with a seal? If they'd leave her alone she'd give it a lookover at the very least.

"Right, men, slit her throat. Grab the baby; we're heading back to the village."

Her eyes widened and before she could say anything a kunai found its way to her throat. Toka Uzumaki lost her life in that moment.

Raiga began to cry and wail for his "KAA-CHAN!" much to Suien's annoyance, "Hand me the twerp, he's the prize tonight."

Suien cackled all the way back to Takigakure.

Suien and his team along with the now gagged Raiga found themselves in Takigakure not 4 hours later. Suien shooed his men away, offering them an insincere job well done before making his way to a house based on the roots of the Great Tree.

He walked up to the home, banged on the door roughly and loud enough to make the gagged Raiga to begin wail through his muzzle.

The door opened to a bald man with squinted eyes in a sleeping robe, "Suien? What are you doing here? It's… It's nearly midnight boy!"

"I know Honored Elder, but I have amazing news. On my patrol in Gana no Gai I came across a dying woman who offered her child to the village if I gave her a clean death. Her name was Toka Uzumaki."

The Elders squinted eyes widened in shock before looking directly at the infant, "You mean…"

"Raiga, that's the brats' name. You don't need to give your grandkid to the beast anymore!"

The Elder had been worried. His daughter was about to give birth in a couple of months and it was determined that unless he could find a suitable replacement, his grandchild would become the village weapon. Now, Suien had brought him his families salvation, "Give me the boy, I will alert the council tomorrow, and by the end of the week Takigakure will have its new weapon."

Suien held the baby tightly making Raiga fidget around in his steel grip, "Now now Honored Elder, I went through the trouble of bringing this boy to you and all… The least you could do is compensate me properly."

The Elder grit his teeth but his excitement overrode his aggravation at the brazen words of his Shinobi, "Suien, congratulations on completing your first S-rank mission then, we'll have your pay once the weapon is completed."

Suiens smirk was full of malice and greed as he handed Raiga to the Elder. He offered a bow to the man before leave with a skip in his step.

The Elder looked to Raiga as if he were a piece of fragile glass before heading inside, making sure not to undo the gag, "Come young Raiga, we have much to do my boy…

And for what it's worth, I'm sorry and thank you."

Tsunade had finished with her work in Konoha quicker than she thought; only 5 days. Her Sensei would be taking the mantle of Hokage back until he could find a successor. He offered the position to both herself and Jiraiya, but both of them had turned it down. Tsunade since she'd be returning to the village in 2 years, though she made sure not to mention that, and Jiraiya because he needed to keep the village enemies at bay now that they were down their ultimate war deterrent, namely Minato Namikaze.

She herself picked up a tag along, a Genin named Shizune, her deceased lover's niece. She'd take care of the girl, if only for Dan's memory.

They made their way to Gana no Gai quickly, and after asking around Tsunade found herself annoyed that Toka decided to get a hotel suite while she was away. Upon entering the hotel and asking the clerk where Toka's room was, the civilian girls eyes opened wide before calling her manager over.

The manager came over with a solemn look in his eye, "Excuse me miss, you are the companion of a miss Toka Uzumaki, yes?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, did the fool do something illegal or try to seduce an important married man? "Yes, I'm her companion. Where is she?"

He lowered his head, "I'm sorry to say she is dead. We found her corpse on the stairwell nearly a week ago."

The air around them grew cold as Tsunades eyes narrowed at the man, "I do not like these types of games boy, tell me where she is, NOW!"

His head lowered even further, "I am truly sorry for your loss."

Her narrowed eyes began to tear up, "What about her son? Raiga, he was only 3 and my Godson."

"He may be alive; nothing but her corpse was there. Whoever did it likely took the boy, for whatever reason."

Tsunade found herself on her knees, her legs had given out as tears streamed down her face, "Her body… Where is it?"

"We made a quick casket and put it in the freezer room where we keep our foodstuffs. If nobody showed up after a week we intended to cremate her. I can show you, if you like?"

She sniffled more, wiping her eyes with her wrist before nodding, she turned to Shizune who looked extremely confused, "Wait in the lobby Shizune." She nodded and ran off.

The manager offered his arm which she used to stand up before leading her to the kitchens and into the freezer room. Inside lay boxes of foodstuffs along the walls and in the middle was a thick wooden casket. Tsunade steeled herself before lifting the top of the casket, revealing the body of her pseudo-sister, her face looked the picture of shock, her neck slit all the way through and though her clothes were bloody the only thing that looked remotely clean was that cursed necklace.

She moved towards the corpse, planting a kiss on Toka cold forehead before removing the necklace from her. She looked the necklace over before mumbling, "you never fail to take them all from me, do you?" The necklace was placed on Tsunade's neck, resting the crystal on her bust.

She turned toward the manager with a strained smile, "I'll take the body, she needs to buried proper."

He nodded, offered his condolences once more before heading out.

Tsunade and Shizune brought the casket to the border of Taki no Kuni and Hi no Kuni, overlooking the outskirts of the Valley of the End.

Tsunade had created a grave for her friend and offered prayers to all the deities she could think of for her safe passage.

Toka Uzumaki

014-044 Shinobi Village Era

A good friend, a fair mother, and the sister I wish I had

You will be missed

She placed a bouquet on the grave before turning around, "Shizune, it's time to go."

"Hai Tsunade-sama!"

She would find her Godson if it was the last thing she did.

It had been a week since Raiga was brought to Takigakure, and during that week much had occurred. The Elder that had gained custody of him showed Raiga to the Council of Taki and in a rare display of union, it was decided he was to become the villages weapon. Once the decision was made the village spent 2 days preparing for the ceremony.

The ceremony itself had taken 4 days to happen, the beginning phase involved the sedation of the current weapon, an older man by the name of Raki. Then they had to ensure that all the equipment was proper and their Fuinjutsu masters were well rested.

After all the preparations were made, Raiga was placed on an octoganal pedestal in the middle of a circular room lit by torches, facing directly infront of Raki.

3 days of screams from Raiga and Raki had occurred and the end result was both the death of Raki…

And Raiga becoming Takigakure's Sandaime Jinchuriki of the Nanabi.

This is the Prologue to a new story that randomly appeared in my head. Just so anybody that is curious asks, this is indeed an OC Self Instert, this first chapter just laid the plot out before I went into character development like I will in later chapters. I always liked the idea of creating a character in the Narutoverse that was important, but wasn't in your face like being the twin of a Rookie 9 or taking one of their places.

In this case, aside from Kurama and Son Goku, Chomei is my favorite Bijuu, yet Fu is my least favorite Jinchuriki, so I rectified that by replacing Fu. She still exists if you paid attention, just she didn't get the short straw and need to become a Jinchuriki.

I am basing Raiga Uzumaki's future self on the anime character Yukihara Souma, or however you spell it. He looks super Uzumaki in my opinion, and his anime model is very pleasing.

Also, on Toka's grave I added the term Shinobi Village Era. I am using a timeline I found on Narutopedia where this era started at the end of the 1st Shinobi War. Note that this has absolutely nothing to do with when Konoha itself was founded, just when the first war ended. It works surprisingly well and keeps things organized.

If you like it, follow/favorite this story and give me lots of reviews!