Still Waters Are Deep 1
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Follow the life of Senju Senshōhseki (尖晶石), daughter of the late Second Hokage. Read as the shy, reserved girl transforms into a quiet, self-assured leader on the battlefields of the Second Shinobi World War. However, behind the pretty facade, the Senju princess hides an incredible secret. Reincarnation!MOD
Happy New Year! I hope, you guys had an enjoyable day and a great start into 2016! Sorry for the super long AN in the previous chapter, but it was necessary.
Have a great day!
Current Rating: T
Beta: EmptySurface
~ Chapter One ~
"Seki-chan! It's time to rise and shine!" Tsunade-nee-sama declared with sadistic cheerfulness, barging into Senshōhseki's room with all the force of an unstoppable tsunami.
The aforementioned white-haired girl sleepily rubbed her eyes, trying to rub the stubborn grit away and chase off the last dregs of her dream. It had been a swirl of colors, looking back on it, but she knew innately that those colors held some sort of meaning.
"Good morning, Tsunade-nee-sama," Senshōhseki muttered groggily, reluctantly slipping out of her warm bed.
Her older sister had stolen her blanket as precaution against the small girl giving into the temptation of cuddling into the mattress for a few more minutes of sleep.
Tsunade-nee-sama rummaged through the closet, laying out a suitable outfit for that day's training program. It consisted of a white Cheongsam battle-dress with red buttons, which was worn over a special mesh-armor. The sleeves of that encased Senshōhseki's shoulders, went down to her elbow, and transformed into pants beyond her waist. It protected her legs and knees from harm.
Senshōhseki quickly refreshed herself with the pitcher of water standing on a small table next to her bed and slipped into the clothes. Then, Tsunade-nee-sama helped her to get all the buttons closed and brushed the spectacular bedhead Seki-chan sported.
Afterward, the elder girl gently pulled the wild locks into two miniature pigtails, mirroring her own. "Very pretty, little gem," Tsunade-nee-sama complimented, smiling at Senshōhseki in the mirror hanging above the refreshment table.
Senshōhseki blushed a faint shade of pink, ducking her head shyly. "Thank you, Onee-sama."
"Come on, it's time to visit the koi," the blonde twelve-year-old announced with an unholy enthusiasm for the hour.
A quick check through the window confirmed that the sun had yet to rise over the horizon. No birds filled the air with their song, not even the roosters in the chicken coop. Outside of the compound's walls, the village was dark and still asleep, with the exception of the rare patrol unit belonging to the Military Police and a few ANBU on mission, no doubt flitting over the shadowy roofs like ghosts.
Regardless, Senshōhseki allowed herself to be dragged outside, into the courtyard gardens. A pond filled with koi was their usual mediation spot, or, more precisely, the narrow, wooden bridge crossing over it.
Tsunade-nee-sama didn't speak again, perhaps still a little too tired for conversation herself. She simply rushed through the large house, trying to keep Senshōhseki from making too much noise while they traipsed through the almost empty hallways.
A few minutes later, the two girls settled on the bridge, in perfect seiza-poses. Thankfully, their parents allowed them to use thin cushions to soften the strain of sitting in the traditional position for long periods of time.
Already familiar with the daily routine, Senshōhseki closed her eyes readily once she was comfortable.
Her breathing slowed and deepened, while the young girl calmed herself into a trance. Steadily, Senshōhseki's focus turned inward, searching within herself for the blue energy coursing through her body. It barely took any time at all for her to find it, as she had been practicing her meditation techniques for years.
Carefully, Senshōhseki pictured her swirling chakra flowing through the inner network of channels, beginning with her head. Then, she slowly worked her way down to her toes, consciously guiding it to every nook and crevice which belonged to her body.
Immediately, the small girl felt the effects of this technique as the somewhat persistent remnants of her sleepiness were washed away.
What felt like both an eternity and only a second later, Senshōhseki opened her eyes again. The birds were still quiet; a peaceful silence all-encompassing the child's relaxed form. It felt as if she was encased in a soothing bubble, ready for the day to come.
Senshōhseki loved to meditate with her older sister. Tsunade-nee-sama never complained when she took a moment to come back to herself, or was distracted by one thought or another.
An hour after the beginning of their meditation, Kin-okā-sama appeared in the gardens, near the pond. "Good morning, my dears," their mother wished them somewhat cheerfully, as always.
Kin-okā-sama was a beautiful woman with long, brown hair and kind eyes of the same color. She was dressed in a Senju kimono; her brunette tresses styled into an elaborate up-do.
"Breakfast is ready. Your father and grandmother are already waiting in the breakfast room," the Senju Lady explained with a hint of amusement. It was not the first time she had to herd her daughters back to the main house and would certainly not be the last.
Senshōhseki righted herself immediately, trying to copy her mother's graceful movements. Tsunade-nee-sama affectionately ruffled her white locks, hiding an amused smile. The younger girl pouted at the older blonde, a little put off that her hair was disheveled now.
"Leave your sister's hair alone, Tsuna-chan," Kin-okā-sama ordered quietly from in front of them. She didn't even turn around to check what had just occurred; it simply belonged to their morning ritual. "You know better. A Lady never appears in public disheveled or in disarray. She does not slouch or runs where others may see. A Lady also never pulls grimaces or rolls her eyes, especially not at their poor Okā-sama."
The last bit was directed at both girls. Senshōhseki had unconsciously been pouting and Tsunade-nee-sama had been rolling her eyes at her mother's back. She had suffered these kind of admonishments ever since she could remember and their impact lessened each time one was directed at her.
Senshōhseki hurriedly rearranged her lips, so that her face changed to resemble polite indifference. It was quite obviously modeled after Kin-okā-sama's default facial expression.
Then, the mother-daughters trio reached the breakfast room, where Mito-bā-sama and Akamaru-otō-sama were indeed awaiting their arrival. In the mornings, the clan head's family always ate together, separately from the rest of the Senju in residence.
"How are the koi today?" Mito-bā-sama inquired with an air of dignified amusement as she caught sight of her granddaughters.
Both girls replied simultaneously: "They were fine, Obā-sama. Just like yesterday."
This exchange also belonged to Senshōhseki's daily routine. Mito-bā-sama smiled at them, giving each girl a grandmotherly kiss on the forehead.
Their Obā-sama was a striking woman, even in her progressing age. She still had vibrantly red hair, which she wore in two buns atop her head. They were held in place by two chopsticks, each decorated with a complicated seal-tag. In the middle of Mito-bā-sama's forehead rested a purple diamond, another seal, although Senshōhseki didn't know what it was supposed to be used for. Their grandmother also always chose to wear a kimono, like their mother. Even in the casual privacy of their private rooms, Mito-bā-sama moved with a timeless, graceful dignity that no one else seemed capable of.
Subconsciously, Senshōhseki straightened her posture, while she slipped into the seat next to her grandmother.
Kin-okā-sama served their meal, as usual. And, also as usual, both Tsunade-nee-sama and Senshōhseki ended up facing a bowl full of steaming rice porridge.
Akamaru-otō-sama smiled sympathetically at the identical dismayed expressions of his two daughters. Nevertheless, he opened the meal by clapping his hands. "Itadakimasu!"
Everyone else followed his example, chanting the same phrase to thank the Gods for their meal.
Senshōhseki sighed a little, inwardly resigning herself to eating the soggy mess in her bowl. Rice porridge! Whoever invented this absolutely disgusting dish should have been forced to eat it every day from the moment they could eat solid food until their eighteenth birthday!
Regardless of her preferences however, Senshōhseki slowly began to spoon the white porridge into her mouth. Carefully only placing so much on her spoon that she wouldn't spill anything all over her dress.
"I see that you have yet to acquire the proper appreciation for rice porridge," Akamaru-otō-sama teased lightly.
Senshōhseki would have huffed in response, had her mouth not been full of the sticky rice. Instead she shook her head no.
"What's not to appreciate?" Tsunade-nee-sama drawled sardonically. She had been eating this for almost twelve years now, so she had a six-year head-start. Which meant the lucky girl would also be allowed adult breakfast six years earlier.
Kin-okā-sama lifted one delicate eyebrow in the direction of her daughters, who swiftly decided it was best to change topics immediately.
"Are you going to be in the village today, Onee-sama?" Senshōhseki asked excitedly. She wanted to show her sister how much she had improved with her new kata.
Tsunade-nee-sama smiled a little indulgently at the red-eyed child. "Unfortunately not, little gem. I'm needed on a mission outside the village. However, I'll be back by this evening, unless something comes up."
Senshōhseki tried very hard not to be disappointed. Or pout. After all, Ladies did not "pull grimaces". Even if they were a little sad.
Mito-bā-sama smiled gently at her youngest granddaughter. "Don't worry, little gem. We shall practice together. How about we read your favorite story of Amaterasu today?"
The white-haired child nodded gratefully. "That would be nice. Thank you, Obā-sama."
"Afterward, I wish to see how you have improved in poetry recitation," Mito-bā-sama continued happily.
Only with extreme self-discipline, managed Senshōhseki to keep the groan threatening to escape from her throat contained within herself. She genuinely liked spending time with her grandmother, but poetry recitation was almost on the same level of loathed things as rice porridge. Almost.
Akamaru-otō-sama sent his adopted daughter another sympathetic smile over the rim of the cup of green tea he cradled appreciatively in his hands. Her father disliked spending time reciting childish poems as well.
Senshōhseki finished the bowl of rice porridge absentmindedly.
After quickly washing her hands, the young girl followed her grandmother outside, back into the gardens. This time, the two of them settled down on a hidden bench diagonally across from the koi pond, at the other end of the courtyard. Bamboo helped to give them an air of privacy, in their secluded little corner.
Mito-bā-sama pulled a scroll out of the many folds of her kimono, handing it to her granddaughter. "Please read out loud," she requested.
Senshōhseki flew over the text, picking out all of the kanji she knew. Thankfully, the author had also used a lot of hiragana. In the end, this was still a story written for children. Then, the dainty Senju princess began to read out loud: "There was once a time..."
After absolving the reading training to her grandmother's satisfaction, Senshōhseki began to "write" characters into the dirt, to improve this area as well. Mito-bā-sama smiled approvingly. "Now, the kanji for 'hand'."
Her granddaughter hurried to comply, taking care to make a legible attempt.
"Very good, little gem. You have been reading on your own again, haven't you?"
Senshōhseki bashfully ducked her head, trying to hide the pink on her cheeks. "Yes, Obā-sama."
Her grandmother sighed. She gently placed a hand on top of the wild, white locks. "Little gem, you are very young. Not even an Academy-student. Why do you persist in training so hard even in your free time? You know that we give you this time to allow yourself to recuperate, to play with the other children, not just Tsuna-chan."
In response, the small girl hung her head. "I want to make them proud," she mumbled softly.
Mito-bā-sama gently tugged her closer, lying a hand against her cheek. "Oh, little gem. They are proud of you, all of us are. There is nothing you have to prove, to earn, for our pride in you," she assured the small girl quietly. "Tobirama-kun and Hoshiko-chan would still be glowing with smugness if they were here. Your parents had long prayed for a child of their own, before you came along. Little gem, they could not have been happier if you had been born a boy."
Senshōhseki felt the tension drain out of her shoulders. She could hardly believe what her beloved grandmother told her. "They did?"
"They did. Child, you are so loved by all of us. Please promise me to regulate your training time from now on and start to play with the other children. Even if Tsuna-chan might be gone."
Mito-bā-sama's penetrative gaze held Senshōhseki's own, until she capitulated. "I promise..."
"Very good. I shall hold you to that, dear. Now, please continue with the kanji for 'air'."
Following her writing lessons, Senshōhseki worked on refining her chakra-control under the supervision of her grandmother. The daily meditation certainly helped to give the small kunoichi-in-training a feel for the energy, but there was always room for improvement. Mito-bā-sama generally allowed Senshōhseki to use whatever technique she wished to practice. She did not particularly care where they came from, so long as her granddaughter didn't injure herself while executing the tricks.
"Very good, Senshōhseki. Now, straighten your back a little more, release the tension from your shoulders. I will place the water canteen in front of you now," Mito-bā-sama commented quietly. "Then, I want you to form the water into a ball. If you manage that correctly five times in a row, we shall move up to another degree of difficulty."
Senshōhseki nodded, snapping out a smart: "Hai, sensei!"
After the canteen had been opened, she concentrated on forming a chakra bubble around the water, carefully gathering the transparent liquid inside it. However, this task was a lot harder than it appeared at first glance. Senshōhseki felt a few drops of sweat roll down her face, while she had her eyes closed for the first part.
She needed to focus extremely hard on her chakra for this to work. It wasn't easy to push her chakra out in enough quantity to build something tangible around something else, especially not water. Liquids tended to escape chakra constructs very easily.
Slowly, the small, nearly invincible bubble floating above her right hand filled with water from the canteen. Just as she managed to squeeze in the last drop, the bubble burst.
Mito-bā-sama nodded approvingly. "Very good, for a first try. You seem to have grasped the concept. Tell me, what did it feel like?"
Senshōhseki mulled over the experience for a moment. "It was - very slippery. I had to measure out the right amount of chakra for the construct to hold the water, but also take care it wasn't too much chakra. That's why the bubble was destroyed; my control slipped a tiny bit at the end."
"Indeed," Mito-bā-sama agreed. "Now, please try again."
Two hours of chakra-control refinement passed by in a blur to Senshōhseki. Then, the large gong rang through the compound, calling everyone to the clan's main hall. Lunch and dinner were always served there. It was tradition to eat together, as a clan, from time immemorial.
Mito-bā-sama rose gracefully from her seat, gently guiding her granddaughter to a bathroom accessible for everyone.
Senshōhseki quickly washed her hands and face, unwilling to invite her mother's reprimands. When she was a grown-up, she wanted to be a Lady, but not as stiffly formal as her mother could sometimes be in public. However, she also did not want to appear dirty to lunch.
Once they reached the main hall, Mito-bā-sama steered Senshōhseki towards her customary seat by her grandmother's side. Tsunade-nee-sama usually claimed the space on the other side, bracketing her little sister.
Akamaru-otō-sama smiled slightly at his youngest child, making an attempt to ruffle her hair. A warning look from his wife quelled that urge instantly, so he simply placed one of his large hands between the pigtails in a comforting gesture.
Senshōhseki timidly studied her plate, waiting for the official sign that lunch was ready to be eaten. Mito-bā-sama didn't squeeze her hand in reassurance, as Tsunade-nee-sama would have. The white-haired Senju was uncomfortable with the constant looks directed at her. Especially when she was supposed to eat. That just made Senshōhseki nervous, leading to her spilling soup onto her clothing more than once.
Akamaru-otō-sama stood when every table had been served bowls of deliciously smelling food. "Thank the Gods for this meal -and thanks to our talented cooks!"
Immediately, chatter filled the air, as did the accompanying clangs of chopsticks and other eating utensils clacking against china.
Mito-bā-sama encouraged Senshōhseki to take more of the wok vegetables which looked quite nice, to be honest.
The meal passed in silence for Senshōhseki, her usual companion at mealtimes gone. Her parents (and grandmother) usually talked to their seconds-in-command during meals; exchanging important news that pertained to clan business. Children, especially young daughters, weren't really welcome in those sorts of conversations.
Unless Senshōhseki was directly spoken to, she should always remain quiet or softly chat with her currently absent sister. Needless to say, lunch was particularly boring that day.
Following lunch and a small recovery period, Mito-bā-sama led Senshōhseki to the training grounds.
"Start with your stretches. Five repetitions should do for today. Then, I want you to run twenty turns along the wall, followed by fifty push-ups, fifty sit-ups, and another five repetitions of your assigned stretches," Mito-bā-sama commanded regally.
"Hai, sensei!" Senshōhseki replied immediately, saluting her grandmother cheekily.
Said woman's lips twitched in fond amusement, contradicting her stern reprimanding look.
Senshōhseki quickly hopped to it, unwilling to risk punishment (extra rounds). Besides, she honestly wanted to train.
A short while later, a sweaty girl reported back to her teacher, panting lightly, but feeling ready for real training.
"Now, show me what Tsuna-chan taught you yesterday."
Senshōhseki nodded seriously, slowly adopting the first position in a long line of them to demonstrate the complicated kata her sister had hammered into her head the previous day. She moved very carefully, consciously coiling or uncoiling every single muscle to do exactly what it was supposed to. All the while, Senshōhseki was studiously ignoring the assessing gaze directed at her as best as she could.
Her body fluidly changed positions. It was casting shadows on the grass, helping her to identify minor errors.
Senshōhseki always had a great memory for things that had caught her attention. She could recall - in perfect detail - conversations spoken months before, yet occasionally forgot to eat vegetables. Or to put read scrolls back on their designated spots in the library she had gotten them from.
This memory was not always a blessing though. However, Senshōhseki concentrated fully on her kata, wanting to impress her grandmother. If she couldn't show Tsunade-nee-sama, then Mito-bā-sama was a worthy substitute, in the child's humble opinion.
Finished, Senshōhseki searched out her grandmother's eyes. "Well done. Now, the same kata, but with your bokken," Mito-bā-sama ordered, a proud note ringing through in her voice.
The white-haired child saluted again, mutely grasping the hilt of her wooden practice sword. Afterward, she once again went through her kata, although this time even slower than before. The bokken was heavy, to her arms.
Mito-bā-sama smiled approvingly. "Not bad. Again, faster this time, Senshōhseki-chan!"
Said girl nodded, discreetly wiping away the sweat from her forehead. Her hair was slightly weighed down by the liquid; the day's high temperature not helping matters any. Senshōhseki could feel her muscles strain against the weight of the wooden sword, more so now that she had already went through the new kata twice.
Nevertheless, the little girl refrained from complaining or asking for a break. Tsunade-nee-sama had already been a Genin at her age, so Senshōhseki really had nothing to complain about. Besides, Tsunade-nee-sama might be happy with her progress.
Whenever she returned from that mission, Senshōhseki could demonstrate even greater improvement than what she'd been able to show today! Newly motivated, the white-haired kunoichi-in-training finished her exercises with reinforced vigor.
Mito-bā-sama inclined her head thoughtfully. The seal tags swished softly in the wind, giving the redhead the appearance of a tree near a shrine. The one everyone left bad luck tags at. "Good, Seki-chan. Another twenty round alongside the wall, fifty push-ups, fifty sit-ups, and another ten repetitions of your stretches. Go!"
Senshōhseki saluted, starting to run, despite her tired muscles.
Mito-bā-sama escorted Senshōhseki back to her room when the exercise had been finished. Temporarily exhausted, the red-eyed girl quickly bathed and changed into a set of white nightclothes. Mito-bā-sama had pushed the blanket back, allowing Senshōhseki to slip into bed easier.
After the girl had snuggled into the mattress, clutching a slightly shabby, soft doll, Mito-bā-sama pressed a grandmotherly kiss to her temple. "Sleep well, little gem."
"Thank you, Obā-sama," the tired girl mumbled sleepily. "Love you."
"I love you as well," her grandmother replied softly, brushing a strand of white hair out of the child's face. Righting the blankets once more, the widowed redhead left the little one to nap in peace.
A small smile played about both females' lips.
Senshōhseki woke in the later hours of the afternoon. She quickly slipped into a child-sized, red kimono and expertly tied the simple obi.
Surveying her image in the mirror, the dainty kunoichi-in-training smiled slightly. She looked exactly like a female, pint-sized version of her late father, but for a few traits inherited from her mother. Or at least from what she could deduce - there were only two pictures of her father and one of her mother. Satisfied, the child slipped back into her house slippers.
She politely greeted the odd servant and descended the stairs to the ground floor. Her feet carried her to the right music room, for her upcoming lessons in playing the koto.
The koto was a thirteen-string zither, her favorite instrument.
"Welcome, Senshōhseki-hime. Please take a seat at your instrument. As usual, seiza position," her teacher instructed, once the small girl had slipped into the room.
Senshōhseki nodded with a soft "Hai, sensei!" Then, she seated herself as instructed, making sure her instrument and she were both ready to play.
"Back a little straighter, please," the music teacher ordered.
In response, the white-haired child immediately straightened and blushed a soft shade of pink.
"Let's begin. Please play the pieces I have given you to practice," the greying ex-kunoichi asked in a tone that brooked no debate.
Senshōhseki began to play, closing her eyes for better concentration.
She truly loved the music lessons her mother had insisted on, especially once she was allowed to pick an instrument. Simply listening was not as fulfilling as actually playing herself.
Although it was very relaxing in its own way. Sometimes, Senshōhseki forgot everything around her for a moment. Forgot the expectations heaved upon her shoulders, simply for being born as the daughter of the Nidaime Hokage and Fujiwara Hoshiko. Forgot the whispers of her clansmen behind her back, questioning if she had even inherited a fraction of her father's talent and why the clan head allowed her to be trained as a kunoichi. (Instead of just waiting and marrying her off to some other clan advantageously.) Forgot the immense pressure she felt from proving herself worthy of both sets of her parents, of her clan, of her heritage.
Music was light. Easy. Singing, dancing, playing her koto - for Senshōhseki it was more a relaxing hobby than another part of her training as a future kunoichi.
This had been her daily routine for four years. Sleep, meditation, breakfast, reading and writing lessons, chakra control, lunch, physical exercises, nap, music lessons, free time, sleep.
Usually, Tsunade-nee-sama trained Senshōhseki, as clan tradition demanded of an older sister, but Mito-bā-sama happily substituted when that was not possible.
And then Senshōhseki turned six.