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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Chapter 1

"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune called as she rushed into the Hokage's office. She wasn't wearing her normal long dress and heels like she did most days. Instead, Shizune wore her combat pants and green Chunin vest as she quickly approached Tsunade's desk. Shizune had just returned from a mission.

Tsunade looked up expectantly at her approaching aide. "Your report, Shizune?"

"The mission was a success!" Her dark-haired brunette announced. "We were able to infiltrate the camp without alerting the enemy and managed rescued all of the children in time." She informed.

The Hokage breathed out a heavy sigh of relief at the news. A few days ago, children of the village had started to go missing without a trace. Signs had pointed to enemy ninja from another village as the kidnappers, but no evidence could be found to prove that theory. When the case was further investigated, it became clear that the culprits were not from a hidden village at all, but from what seemed to be a group of traveling rogue ninja. With the help of tactician Shikamaru Nara and sensory-type Shinobi, they had been able to track the camp where the children were being held captive. "Any casualties?" The Blonde Hokage asked in concern.

"Kuro was wounded by a trap placed near the camp, and Fumio was injured when we were pursued by some of the enemy-nin, but they were not very powerful and we defeated them. I administered first-aid to them both and they are now in the hospital….as well as some of the children." Shizune explained hesitantly.

"Were the children injured?" Tsunade asked, even more concerned now.

"Yes some of them were badly mistreated but not too severely for any permanent harm. Also, the children seemed very malnourished and some were ill. I did my best to treat them on the way back to the village, but we had to move fast and there were too many to care for by myself." She explained, lowering her head a little.

Tsunade softened her gaze and stood up from her desk, walking around to the younger brunette. Placing a firm hand on her shoulder, she said "You did well Shizune, I'm proud of you." With that she began walking towards the door of her office.

Shizune looked over at her superior and began to follow her out. "Where are you going, Lady Tsunade?" She asked.

The blonde looked back over her shoulder as she answered. "To the hospital. I want to check up on those children."

"Actually Lady Tsunade, there's something else I've been meaning to tell you about that." Shizune interjected quickly.

Tsunade looked at her aide curiously. "What exactly is it?"

Tsunade peered through the one way glass window of the hospital wing. "I see…." She began. Inside the small white room were seven young girls, their ages ranging from no less than three to no more than nine years old. They all were sitting together quietly, none of them looking up except two, one dark haired girl who appeared to be the oldest of the group, and a younger girl who's eyes looked about the room in a wondering, thoughtful manner.

"They had been locked up in the same cell as the rest of the children from our village….we all assumed that they were." Shizune began. "But as it turns out, they were living with the group of rogue-nin. The older looking one explained to us afterward that they are all the daughters of the caravan's leader."

Tsunade looked over at her aide in surprise. "They don't look much alike." She stated.

"No, I believe they must have different mothers. I haven't asked them many questions yet, I figured it'd be better to wait until you were informed about them." Shizune explained.

Tsunade nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, that makes sense." She looked back at the girls through the window once again. "Let's do that now." The Hokage turned and walked around from the window to the door that lead to the little wing. "And let's take care not to startle them either. Hopefully we'll find the right solution to this situation." She added to herself. With that, she gently opened the door and stepped into the room with Shizune following closely behind.

The girls all looked up in response to her entrance, but she gave a calming smile to them. "Hello. I am Tsunade, the Hokage of the Leaf Village." She introduced. The girls looked at her quietly and curiously, not saying a word. "I was hoping to ask you all some questions if you don't mind." She began, watching their reactions; so far nothing. "To start, do you know anything about where you are?" She asked.

At first, the girls said nothing until a small voice spoke up. "The Village Hidden in the Leaves, also known as Konoha, is the Hidden Village of the Land of Fire. It's renowned to be the most powerful and prosperous of all the Hidden Villages." The voice came from a small child with deep blue eyes and turquoise hair in two low-hanging pigtails down each side of her face.

"Michiko, don't say anymore than you have to." The eldest looking one told her in a hiss. Michiko shrunk back a little from the older girl but then met her hard gaze firmly. The elder girl had cropped dark hair and grey eyes as the others clearly looked to her as the leader.

"I suppose that's also a good place to start. What is each of your names?" The Hokage inquired still smiling gently.

The dark haired girl looked at the Hokage hesitantly before reluctantly answering. "I am Nori." She said flatly. "This," she said gesturing to the younger girl with turquoise hair "Is Michiko, as I said before. The rest are Akiko, Hiro, Emi, Kimiko, and the little one is Kin." She introduced pointing to each girl.

"I heard that you are all sisters. Is that correct?"

Nori again hesitated before answering. "Yes, we all share the same father." She confirmed Shizune's suspicion.

"And you are the oldest?"

"I am."

Tsunade took another look over all the girls. They seemed less frightened then before but they still seemed to carry an edginess as they in turn watched the Hokage. She decided to ask a bolder question. "Your father was the leader of the camp we found you in?" She asked.

The other girls all avoided her eyes at that moment, except once again Nori and Michiko. Michiko opened her mouth to answer, but Nori shot her a look that silenced her.

"Why was your father keeping you locked up in a cell?" She continued, watching them very closely at this question.

"Do you know why-"She continued, only to be cut off.

"Lady Hokage," Nori interrupted carefully. "I understand your curiosity, but I also understand what our situation is here. If we are to be your hostages, then we will cooperate, however we will not disclose information to you. I mean this respectfully." She explained. "If we did so, we would lose all value as hostages, and I will not endanger my sisters' lives." She told her boldly.

Tsunade watched the girl in surprise at her assumption. Nori spoke once again, this time her air of bravado was fading. "My request is that you'll return us all safely to the camp…..that's all we want." She said with a cracking voice.

Tsunade kneeled down in her heels to look at the girl eye to eye. "Is that what you want, Nori? To return to that camp?" She asked the girl slowly.

Nori attempted to meet her eyes and answer, but couldn't hold the woman's scrutinizing gaze. She clenched her fists and trembled, trying to muster an answer.

Tsunade reached out and placed a hand on the girl's shaking frame. "Nori…" She began.

At her name, Nori's head snapped upward and a determined look was in her eyes. "Lady Hokage!" She started strongly. "I would like to discuss this matter with you outside, if that is alright." She told her a ready voice.

Tsunade again regarded the girl in surprise, but nodded and stood up. "Amazing how maturely she carries herself. She can't be more than eight years old!" She and Nori made their way out of the room; Shizune remained inside to supervise the other girls.

After the door closed behind them, Nori looked up at Tsunade, seemingly more timid now but no less determined. "We can't go back…" she began softly. "Please, if you need a hostage, use me for your demands send me back alone and tell him that the others are dead, just don't make my sisters return to that place!" Her voice was rising now, and she was fighting the tears in her eyes. "Please, please, please…" She begged almost in a whisper. "Too many…our mothers, our friends, our other siblings…..he kills anyone who fails to please him. I don't want that…!"

Nori almost jumped in surprise when she felt the hands of Tsunade on her shoulders comfortingly. "Nori," She said gently wiping the stray tear off of the girl's face. "I wanted to explain this to you in the room with your sisters. I have no intention of ever sending you back to that wretched place, or returning you to your father." She told her. "My Shinobi rescued you as much as they did the other children of our village."

"But-"

"Would you like to join our village Nori, you and all your sisters?" She asked kindly. "You'll live here safe and cared for, for as long as you like." She told the stunned girl.

Nori furrowed her eyes in consideration, before looking hopeless. "He'll come though, I just know he will. He'll never let us go." She said dismally.

"I'll protect you." Tsunade assured. "And not just me, but every soul in the Leaf Village will protect you and your sisters. The Leaf Village will never abandon one of their own; I swear as the Hokage, you will be safe here." Tsunade promised with a bright and resolute smile. With that, she held out her open hand before her. "What do you say Nori?"

Nori stared at the open hand and slowly, she reached out and took hold of it. "Thank you."