Thank you for the reception this story got! I've had really bad writer block for years now and this is the first thing I've posted in years. Excuse any Clan Wars timeline issues, there was never a clear timeline of the events that happened so everything's guess work. I'm also working on trying to get the characterization for Tobirama right. From what I got from the anime he's more serious and practical, but he's not needlessly cruel.
Kurama knew what those seals were the second he saw them through Naruko's eyes and he realized all the strange looks Naruko was getting throughout the battles were because Madara and the Senju did know her. They had met her before and were following the history they knew.
When the preparations were complete he pulled Naruko's consciousness into her mindscape and took over for the pull back in time. No human mind, no matter how strong, is able to handle the trauma of time travel so he pulled her as deep into her mind as he could to shield her while he took over, keeping her mind and body intact until the seal ran its course.
He knew he would have to keep her from trying to change the past too much. She was sent back to keep the past consistent, not change it drastically, but he would have a hard time trying to stop her from going after Madara. How ever long she was in the past, nothing would be resolved among the people she met until she came back to her time.
Based on the emotions they had felt coming from the Senju brothers and Madara, he was betting on her spending a lot of time in their era. The water brat especially seemed to be attached to Naruko.
With any luck, she would convince the Sunju brothers to train her. Any advantage over Madara was needed since that snake Kabuto had resurrected him in his prime with all the abilities he had gained up to his real death. Since they seemed to care for her so much and had not been surprised to see her after their resurrection, at some point they find out or she tells them her situation.
Kurama felt the pull of the seal finishing and made sure Naruko's mind sustained no damage. He had barely noticed the effects of the seals, too inhuman to be overly damaged by it. He mostly felt the rapid chakra drain.
When the seal deposited them, it was calmly. The pattern of seals simply appeared on the ground like an unravelling spiral and her body was deposited in the same position as the seal finished. There were no explosions or massive releases of chakra to draw movement reminded him of Hatake's and Uchiha's sharingan, the Kamui, and he guessed the seal was based off that in some way.
He had to give credit to Hashirama and Madara; together, they created - recreated? Blast it, tenses were going to be a pain in the ass - a seal that would fulfill their purpose with little damage to Naruko herself and not draw attention to her. Her body had sustained damage only in the case of chakra burns and severe chakra exhaustion but those weren't permanent.
Kurama carefully pushed Naruko's body up, senses aware for any enemies. They were either in the Warring States Era or the early founding of the village, both still very hostile and suspicious times. He kept Naruko suppressed, not hard when she was still unconscious, ready to make sure she was at least out of the open and near familiar territory before letting her have control.
He trusted his instincts enough to believe they were actually very close to where Konoha is or will be. They were completely surrounded by forest and he sensed no nearby chakra signatures or the strong emotions inherent to humans. He knew this could change at any moment and Naruko couldn't be caught using his chakra, even if it was him using her body. There were no jinchuriki or use of the biju until Hashirama freed him from Madara to be sealed and found the rest of his kin to distribute them among the villages.
Naruko met the Senju and Madara at some point and he resolved to at least find the direction of the brothers, if not them personally. Their age would give him a time period and they were a much safer option than taking her directly to Madara.
Thinking on the risks of the time period, he ripped Naruko's leaf symbol off her head and took off what remained of her kimono style top with the Uzumaki swirl on the back. He pulled out the storage scrolls Jiraiya had given her and searched through them until he pulled out her plain dark orange jacket with black lining that had no symbols on it. Now she was in torn up, black shinobi pants with mesh armor under a black shirt and the jacket. No identifying symbols.
He took out the rest of the clothes from the scroll, pulling out all the kimono style tops mimicking Kushina's style and anything else that had the Uzumaki or leaf symbol on it leaving only one outfit and her sleepware and undergarments. He hid the headband and clothes deep under the roots of a tree instead of putting them in the scroll. She would be searched when she was found and that meant the clothes in her scroll.
Now that Naruko wouldn't be seen as anything other than a clanless orphan he turned to look at the seal. It showed no sign of fading away, the dark black markings standing out like a brand against the grass. He tried to angle Naruko's head to look at her shoulder where Madara had done something. He saw the edge of some kind of seal but couldn't see all of it. To test his suspicions, he focused a miniscule amount of his chakra to it.
The small seal didn't visibly react in any way but he felt a small pulse. The seal on the ground reacted with another pulse.
The seal Madara had burned on Naruko's body was a timer and it was filled with large amounts of Madara's chakra that he had probably been gathering since he had been resurrected. Until that chakra ran out, Naruko would be in the past. When the time was up, the seal would activate the one on Naruko and pulse until Naruko came.
The only purpose of the second seal on Naruko was to key the seal specifically to her so only she could be pulled through time. Madara's chakra in both seals acted as an anchor, pulling her to a specific time periods as long as Madara's chakra was active - meaning to a time when he was alive. A quick check of the primary seal confirmed that Hashirama's clone that had helped lay it out had also put some chakra into the seal network. Hashirama's chakra in the seal made it so Naruko would be pulled back in time to when both of them were alive, since Madara was worse than a cockroach.
It was too risky to leave such a dangerous seal out in the open but the only way he could hide it would draw attention. Weighing the risks was no contest; the seal was too dangerous, especially with Madara around.
Kurama crouched on the edge of the seal and quickly gathered his chakra, infusing it with the chakra of the nature around him. He quickly layered it over the seal, moving quickly but carefully, knowing his chakra was potent enough to be felt by any sensors within a wide radius of him with the amount he was using. He used his chakra to cover the seal much like a genjutsu, hiding it from sight. The nature chakra, which also had the benefit of masking his own, would feed the chakra and keep the seal hidden until he released it himself. The cloak would be undetectable because it just felt like nature and the seal would stay hidden from any prying red eyes.
Kurama felt two powerful chakra's make a beeline for his direction and recognized them as the Senju. Those two were some of the best sensors ever born and he was relieved that they were the only ones coming.
He ran Naruko's body over to the next clearing he could find, not wanting to draw their attention to the area where she had appeared in case they could sense any kind of disturbance. When he felt their chakra was close enough that they would find her within a minute, he receded into Naruko's mind, letting her body drop like a stone.
He used his senses to still see what was happening around Naruko while she remained unconscious. When the brothers arrived he analyzed them, trying his best to determine their ages while they assessed the area around Naruko for any traps.
OooO
Hashirama and Tobirama ran quickly through the forest towards the direction they had sensed a very powerful, potent chakra. The times were too dangerous to leave a possible threat with that level of chakra uninvestigated. No one other than them seemed to have sensed it since they felt no other chakra approaching or following them.
The only reason they had sensed it in the first place was they had been on patrol and with Tobirama's chakra in use, he had sensed the first sign of it.
The source of the chakra vanished suddenly and Hashirama and Tobirama sped up, keeping their senses alert for the slightest fluctuation of chakra. The potent one was gone but there was still another source in the same direction.
They soon arrived at a small clearing, no more than a slightly larger gap between a couple of trees. Crumpled on her stomach at the base of one was a young girl, not even twenty, seemingly unconscious. They both extended their senses towards her, making sure she wasn't faking before they approached her. Her chakra was very weak but was calm and still, no fluctuations giving her away. She was completely unconscious.
Hashirama signalled Tobirama to follow him to the ground and they stayed still, crouched near her in case she woke up. Hashirama was the one to move first, reaching out for her shoulder. "I'm going to see if she has any clan symbols on her."
Hashirama was careful when searching her body, both searching for her pulse and turning her over to look for any symbols. Her pulse was steady and strong so she was in no danger of death and the only injuries were relatively minor. Her clothes were a little torn up but he didn't see a symbol for a clan on her.
Seeing a weapon pouch he opened it, finding some kunai and shuriken and two small scrolls. He pulled both out and opened them finding them to be storage scrolls marked with what each part contained. There were clothes, rations, medical, weapons, and one that just said spare supplies spread out on the two scrolls. The strangest thing on the scrolls was a small, hand-drawn picture of a toad on the bottom of both but it was nothing overly worrying.
He turned to his brother after setting the girl down on her back. "She's alive, no injuries but some minor chakra burns and a severe case of chakra exhaustion. No clan marks on her clothes and her hair's too bright to be a Yamanaka. What do you think?"
Tobirama approached her now, staring at her face more intensely than what was normal for this situation. Hashirama couldn't fault his starring; the girl was beautiful.
Her face was still slightly round from youth but it is easy to tell she would only be more beautiful as she got older. She had strange whisker marks on her cheeks that he knew weren't scars but that amplified her high cheekbones. Her lips were a pale pink, full and slightly chapped and her skin was a light golden tan which brought out the richness of her hair color. Her bright blond hair was tangled and hanging loose around her. It looked like it had previously been in a braid but had fallen out haphazardly. The strands went down to her elbows and her bangs were spiked much like Tobirama's, only her's went past her eyes with slightly longer locks framing her face.
Her clothes were interesting, especially for a shinobi. She was wearing black shinobi pants tucked into ninja sandals with bandages wrapped around her legs from just below her knees to the top of black sandals. There was a weapons pouch on her right thigh on top of some more bandages. He had felt that she was wearing mid-sleeve mesh armor under a simple black sleeveless shirt. The strangest thing about what she was wearing was the dark orange, long sleeve jacket with some pockets on the inside and outside. She was wearing no other armour, something especially dangerous for a shinobi in these times. The most he had felt was the mesh under her shirt when he turned her over.
Tobirama had crouched beside him and reached out to touch the girl's arm. His younger brother's eyes widened and shot to him and Hashirama nodded to show he had felt it too.
When in direct contact with her skin he had felt her chakra levels. Even in the severe state of exhaustion she was in now, they could both feel how large her chakra reserves were, especially since there were so few kunoichi and the few there were had no where near the reserves this girl had.
"Her reserves are too large to be a civilian that someone trained; she naturally had large reserves growing up. Whoever trained her, trained her because they sensed this in her. She could possibly match me at her full strength," Tobirama eventually shared. "She's also at least half Uzumaki."
Hashirama nodded, having figured the same was a distinct tinge to her chakra that all the Uzumaki carried but the lack of red hair and clan symbol confused him. If she was indeed Uzumaki, even just half, the clan would have taken her in, especially with the risks of a woman traveling alone. She either did not know of her heritage, was in hiding, or she was searching for the clan herself. The Senju and Uzumaki were close allies and he had never heard even a whisper of the girl's existence, so they must not know she exists.
Uzumaki or not, he had to think of the possibility she could be a threat. "It's too risky to take her back to the clan or the Uzumaki without knowing anything about her."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes as he thought. "We have the outpost to the east that has enough supplies. We can set her up there and keep her contained until she wakes and we can question her. I can watch her and notify you when she wakes."
Hashirama thought it over and nodded. He knew the outpost, having built it himself. It was basically a cabin where they went when they wanted to be alone and was fully stocked and secured with seals. Tobirama was there the most when he wanted to be alone or develop and practice jutsu so he would be the better choice to stay there. He would come when he could but he had to lead the clan and couldn't leave for undetermined periods of time without preparations.
Tobirama bent over and picked up the girl, carefully placing her over his shoulder, careful of his armor, so they could move quickly. Hashirama packed the girls supplies back in her weapon pouch and took it with him, following his brother.
With the speed they could travel they arrived at the small cabin in ten minutes. It was small and had one visible story, made of solid walls and only three small windows. There was one visible door but known only to them was the underground tunnel that was an escape route should the place ever be found and blasting their way out wasn't an option.
The inside was only two rooms. There was a sleeping area that was only a small but comfortable futon in the far corner by a fireplace and a basic kitchen near that. There were two chairs and a table but nothing else as far as decor went. The other room was the bathroom, the only place where there were walls inside, but if the door was open, whoever was in there could see the entire cabin.
Tobirama set the girl down on the futon and Hashirama went to the table where some scrolls and ink were. He grabbed some fresh ink and a brush and knelt beside the girl again. His little brother had pulled up her jacket and mesh sleeves, baring her arm, and with deft strokes he quickly had a chakra suppression seal drawn on her arm. It wouldn't stop her from recovering her chakra but it would cut her off from being able to use it.
He turned to his brother who was checking the contents of the kitchen and the wood supply. "How long are you good for?"
"There is enough food for a few days plus hunting, same with the wood." Tobirama said as he shut the cabinets. "What about you?"
Hashirama laid a hand on the wall and focused on checking the security seals. "The seals are undisturbed and functioning. I will try to come everyday to check on her progress. Depending on how much Uzumaki is in her, she should be up in a day or two."
Tobirama eyed the unconscious girl again. "Are we going to contact them?"
Hashirama rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. "We should probably wait until she wakes and we can question her. Find out who exactly she is, where she comes from, and whether she's a threat before we tell them."
Tobirama nodded, eyes not leaving the girl. Seeing a rare chance to tease his serious brother he grinned, ambling over and tossing an arm over his shoulders, ignoring his little brother's glare. "You can't take your eyes off her, Tobi-kun. I get it, she is rather - "
"Shut. Up." Tobirama said in a reproachful manner, glaring darkly at him and shrugging off his arm.
Hashirama dropped his head and shoulders, sulking and mumbling "Can't even have a bit of fun with my own brother," until Tobirama shoved him.
Visibly annoyed Tobirama pushed him in the direction of the door. "Just go back to the clan. Come when you can tomorrow."
Following along with his brother he spared one last look to the unconscious girl before leaving. as he was bounding through the forests he hoped the girl wasn't a threat. She was so young even if most shinobi around her age were practically veterans.
OooO
Naruko came to knowing she was in her mindscape. When she opened her eyes, she screamed and jumped. Kurama was crouched over her, piercing red eyes watching her. Hand over her heart, she glared up at him. "Don't do that! It's so creepy, you watching me from so close."
Kurama rolled his eyes. "What do you remember?"
Naruko furrowed her brows, trying to remember the last thing that happened. She was fighting Obito and Madara, the four Edo Tensei Hokage had shown up, and Madara had…
She jumped up with a screech. "What did that bastard do? What did he mean by following history?! And why the hell are you so calm?!"
Naruko turned to Kurama for answers, wondering why the fox was lying so calmly, hands (paws? he has five fingers and his upper body is humanish, so - hands) crossed and his head laying on them. Kurama sighed: a full-body, long suffering, why does this always happen to me, kind of sigh.
She got those a lot.
"You remember how you noticed all the weird looks from Madara and the Shodaime and Nidiame? Like they knew you?" Naruko nodded, wondering where he was going with this. "It's because they do know you - or did, rather."
Naruko stared at Kurama blankly. "They died decades before I was born," she explained in a slow voice, as if speaking to a child. He's lost it. All those years locked up have destroyed his mind, he's completely lost it, she thought.
Kurama looked up while taking a deep breath, the way she had seen Iruka-sensei do many times when she was being especially difficult. "Madara placed you in a seal that acted like the other Uchiha's Kamui. It used your chakra to send you back in time. Madara placed something on your back, remember?" Naruko frowned as she stretched an arm to touch the area she remembered feeling Madara's chakra condense on her. "It's a seal that acts as a timer, basically. When you've spent however long here the seal is timed for, it will pull you back."
Naruko was silent, letting this sink in before her eyes suddenly widened. "I can't stay here! We were barely holding on, the Juubi was transforming, they need me! We have to go back!"
"Unless you've suddenly become a seal master overnight and can override Madara's seal on you, we can't. Not until the seal times out." Kurama explained. "I don't know how much time will pass there while we are here. Any kind of space-time travel is hard to manage. A minute could pass there while we spend months here.
Naruko glared up at him in a huff. "How do you know all this anyway?"
"You gave me control when blacking out, baka." Kurama snapped. "Your mind wouldn't have been able to take time travel so I pushed you to let me take control. I barely felt the effects and I hid the seal under a genjutstu after learning what I could from it. I also made sure to hide anything you had that had identifying symbols. Your headband and most of the clothes with the Uzumaki symbol are hidden in the forest."
"Why'd you do that?" Naruko grouched, upset at the loss of her headband.
"Madara sent us back in time to the Warring States Era."
Naruko's eyes widened. She didn't pay a lot of attention in school but she did know basic history. "That far? How was that possible?"
Kurama growled. "Madara is one of the strongest shinobi alive and he had decades after his supposed death to learn new tricks. There's no telling what else he can do."
Naruko swallowed, remembering the memories of two meteors being pulled out of space onto the Gaara's company. "Okay, but what does that have to do with my clothes and headband?"
"The Uzumaki Clan exists in this time period and they have no knowledge of you. Better for you to be considered clanless than try to claim relation to a clan. For the first time, it would be safer if you used your father's name of Namikaze instead of Uzumaki," Kurama advised. "Your headband I hid because they would have asked about any kind of symbol you might have had on you."
Naruko nodded, taking in what she understood but then something he said stood out to her. "'They?' Who's they?"
"There was no way to hide the seal so even the Sharingan couldn't see it without using my chakra. Powerful sensors sensed me and came running but I finished and retreated back here before they came, though not before I saw who they were." Kurama paused here, taking a slow breath, a hint of a growl heard deep in his chest. "Luckily, it was not Madara or any of his ilk. The Senju - Hashirama and Tobirama - are the ones that have you."
"So I'm unconscious wherever they took me?" She asked.
The fox nodded. "I made sure to bring you here when your mind started waking. You need to create a convincing story to tell them so they will not kill you."
Naruko jumped at that. "Kill me? They'd really do that?"
Kurama's red eyes bore into her own. "The era we are in is a time of suspicion and conflict. No one gave out their family name for fear the person you met was an enemy of your clan and would kill you."
"That's why you want me to use Namikaze," Naruko realized. Then she scratched her cheek absently. "How am I supposed to think up, let alone remember, a story good enough to convince them?"
"The best lies are one's that have the truth." Kurama said. Then he seemed to realize who he was talking to and revised it. "It will be easier to remember if it has some truth in it."
Naruko nodded. "That makes sense. So I can still be an orphan...how can I explain your chakra?"
Kurama answered quickly, having thought up some ideas while waiting. "You can say your village was attacked the day you were born by me. I'm running wild in this time until Madara tracks me down. Your body absorbed some of my chakra but your parents were killed."
"That's easy enough to remember. I think I'm getting the hang of this." Naruko went down on her knees, sitting back on her heels. "I had no relatives to take me in and because of the chakra I absorbed and the marks on my face, people ignored me. I reminded them of the attack too much." She paused here, trying to swallow the lump in her throat before continuing. "A wandering shinobi was passing through my village and sensed the chakra in me."
"He trained you as a shinobi to control the chakra and you left the village with him." Kurama realized something and added on. "The senju might have sensed the Uzumaki chakra in you so you can say he was taking you to the clan to see for sure when he was killed protecting you."
Naruko nodded, finding the made up backstory pretty easy to remember. "He told me to find the Senju Clan or Uzumaki Clan before he died and I was searching for them when I was attacked."
Kurama ran the story over in his mind. There were some holes, but it was close enough to her past that she should remember it easy enough. "As long as you can keep them from prying, it should hold. We created a way for you to use my chakra but that will draw attention to you if you use it too much."
She frowned and crossed her arms. "What attacks can I not do?"
"Try to avoid Sage Mode." The fox answered. "Not many shinobi outside of Hashirama know how to use it in this time so you can't say Jiraiya taught it to you. You can't use your clones," he realized.
Naruko's arms shot to her sides, fists clenched. "Why not?!"
"Tobirama invented the shadow clone. Unless you tell them the truth - which you better not -" he added with a dark glare, "and got them to believe you, Tobirama and those he's shown are the only ones who know the technique. It would raise suspicion if you suddenly popped up out of nowhere able to use it. The only way you can use your clones is if you miraculously get Tobirama to teach it to you."
Naruko growled, gritting her teeth. "This sucks. That means I can barely use any of my rasengan, hell, any of my jutsu at all!"
"You'll have to deal with it," Kurama said firmly. "Now, can you remember the story? Once you leave here, you'll wake up and then there's no screwing up."
Frustrated, but not having a choice, she grit out, "I can remember it...Just...give me a minute to wrap my head around everything."
Kurama stared at his host, seeing the emotions building in her heart. She needed a way to focus for however long she was here, something to take away her anger at her predicament. Damn brat has made me soft. "Naruko." When he had her complete attention he continued. "Use the time you have here to train. You're you," he continued wryly, "If you could get through to all the tailed beasts - me especially - then becoming friends with the Hokage brats should be a piece of cake. Train with them, get Hashirama to teach you seals aside from the basics the hermit taught you. Do that and get stronger here so you can face the Madara back in our time better prepared."
Naruko stared at him quietly for a few seconds, muscles tight with tension and emotion. Slowly, her body relaxed and she smiled a small, real smile up at the fox. "Thank you, Kurama."
The fox plopped his head back down on his arms, face turned away from her. "Just get out of here and wake up already."
Smile turning to her familiar foxy grin, she cheekily saluted him before closing her eyes and focusing on waking up.
OooO
A day and a half after he and Hashirama had found the girl, she woke up. Tobirama had spent the majority of that time thinking of her and her possible origins. While an Uzumaki without red hair was possible, there weren't many, that particular gene being especially strong. The only reason he and his brother believed she was one was because the Uzumaki had a distinct tinge to their chakra only powerful sensors can feel. Their bloodline of longevity, resilience, and special chakra was unmistakable.
The only question was how could she exist? The Uzumaki Clan was close-knit and very family oriented. If someone in the clan had a child, it would be known and the child taken in, given to a family if the birth parents were dead. There was almost no way for the girl to have not been found. The Uzumaki in her was too strong to be diluted from generations, one of her parents was a powerful full blooded Uzumaki.
When she woke and was questioned, they would find out the truth. If her story checked out, they would take her to the Uzumaki Clan, if not, he and Hashirama would figure out what to do with her.
Throughout her time unconscious, Tobirama mostly just let his thoughts wander while he had shadow clones watching the perimeter, lost in his thoughts.
It was an hour before sunset the second day after they found her that she woke. It helped confirm the Uzumaki blood in her was strong; they always recovered very quickly from serious injuries and chakra exhaustion. The chakra suppressing seal wouldn't come off of her though, until it could be proven that she was not a threat.
He had been sitting beside the futon against the wall, staring at the small fire he had started, one leg bent with his elbow resting on it while the other was stretched out. He had noticed she was waking by the fluctuations in her chakra; it went from slow and steady to gradually spiking and when he looked over at her he saw her starting to move.
Tobirama had been prepared for a slow awakening, consciousness returning slowly due to her low chakra. He had not been expecting her eyes to shoot open revealing stunningly bright blue eyes before she shot up and made for the door. It was only due to his reflexes and incredible speed that he was able to pursue her instantly, tackling her around the waist as she stepped outside.
They landed on the ground hard, him on top of her, and she immediately started struggling. He was surprised at the energy and strength she had considering how exhausted she should be and the fact that she had no access to her chakra. She must have been moving on sheer will power.
The girl managed to get one leg free enough to manage a curving back kick, driving her heel into his back and knocking him to the side. He still had his grip around her waist but without his weight as an advantage to hold her still she started squirming fiercely, arms and legs flying and trying to get under his guard. He managed to get onto his knees, securing the girl in his arms with one arm around her waist and the other in a loose hold around her neck. She managed to get her legs in front of her but he kept her body too low for her to push herself up with them. The girl was trying to get the leverage to get her feet or knees under her and was alternating between clawing his arms, elbowing his stomach, or trying to scratch his face.
"Will you..stop! I'm not going...to hurt you!" He forced out when he narrowly avoided getting his face kicked. She had incredible flexibility to almost kick the top of his head, it was almost a complete vertical kick.
When she tried to do it again he quickly caught her leg under the knee with the arm around her waist. He had to strain against her to pull his arm back and pin her leg to her stomach. He hoped she tired herself out or the awkward positioning of her limbs would get to her, he was trying not to hurt her. He was glad he had removed his armor hours ago, otherwise she could possibly have seriously hurt herself on it, not to mention this would be even more awkward.
It seemed her adrenaline finally wore off because her movements were slowing and her leg was trembling. He held her securely until she went completely still aside from her heaving chest. Her head was hanging forward so he had no view of her face but she finally seemed to calm. He refused to let go of her but he did soften his grip the slightest bit. "Are you ready to listen now?"
The girl tensed at the sound of his voice and he let her turn her head enough to look at him. He was stunned at the color of her eyes; a rich blue, with shades ranging from bright electric to dark sapphire with a violet ring around her pupils. Her eyes widened upon seeing his face and he saw the surprise clearly in her eyes and on her face.
They had apparently been staring at each other longer than he thought because he was actually startled when he heard someone clearing their throat. Both he and the girl tensed, heads whipping around to the source of the noise. Hashirama was standing at the treeline, a huge grin on his face. "Am I interrupting something?"
Ear's burning, and seeing the girl's neck flush dark red, Tobirama realized what the way he was holding her looked like and slowly let her go, embarrassed but still cautious. He kept one hand on the girl's elbow as they both got to their feet, noticing when standing that the top of her head came just below his chin. He also noticed the almost awed looks the girl threw him and his brother that she tried to hide.
Hashirama walked to the door of the cabin, stopping a few feet from it. He noticed his brother had a light genjutsu over the Senju marks on his armour and wasn't wearing the cloth on his forehead. "What's your name?"
The girl looked back and forth between them, the hand of the arm he wasn't holding playing with the end of her - now even more messy - hair. Awake and moving, it was easier to see she was in her mid to late teens, only three or four years younger than him at twenty-one. "My name is...Naruko." Her voice was slightly husky for a girl but still soft and feminine.
Hashirama smiled gently, trying to put her at ease. "Well Naruko, I'm Hashirama and that's my brother Tobirama. We mean you no harm, we just have some questions. How about we go inside?"
Naruko looked around them, taking in the surroundings and he figured she was trying to decide whether or not she could make a run for it or trying to find any landmarks she may recognize. With her chakra sealed until his brother removed the seal, he hoped it was the later. After she had finished her searching, she looked back at him and his brother and nodded. Tobirama let go of her elbow but stayed close behind her as he followed her back to the cabin, Hashirama moving aside so Naruko was the first one in.
Once inside and the door closed, Naruko made a beeline for the futon, almost collapsing on it. He and Hashirama dragged the two other chairs so they were in front of her and sat down, not too close as to intimidate her too much, but not too far away either.
Naruko ignored them for a while, settling her body gingerly back against the wall. From the state of her chakra when they found her her body must be incredibly sore and exhausted, the little skirmish earlier not helping matters. Her eyes went to the table where her weapons and scrolls were and then she yanked up the sleeve of her arm, glaring at the suppression seal standing out in stark contrast to her tan skin. That glare moved up to them as she yanked her sleeve harshly back down.
"It won't stop you from recovering your chakra," Hashirama said. "It only cuts off your access to it. Your levels were dangerously low when we found you but until we know whether you are a threat, that seal stays on. Will you answer our questions?"
Naruko seemed to calm a bit at the explanation for the seal. "I will answer what I can, but can I have some water first?"
Hashirama smiled, trying to keep Naruko calm and compliant. "Of course. Tobirama, if you would?"
Without a word he did what he was asked, letting his brother take the lead to get through the questioning as peacefully as possible. While considered an adult, she was still incredibly young, not to mention a woman alone, and Hahirama's dislike of violence against children was coming into play. He would do what he could to get the answers they needed without hurting her.
Kneeling down, Tobirama handed the glass of water to Naruko, both of them staring again when their fingers brushed. Awake, he could admit she was very beautiful, which made the fact that she was alone even more worrisome. Aware of his brother behind him, he stood back up and went to his seat.
After giving her some time to drink Hashirama leaned forward to put his elbows on his knees. "Now Naruko, what is your last name? We will not harm you when we find out unless we are provoked to do so, but we can't let you go without knowing."
Tobirama focused on her body language and chakra, attentively monitoring both for any signs of deception. Her hands clenched on the glass but she answered without further prompting. "Namikaze."
She was not lying so she probably didn't know her heritage, unless she was searching for them. He had never heard of a Namikaze so she was most likely from a civilian family or an orphan.
"What are you doing here?" Hashirama asked.
"I'm looking for some people," she answered vaguely. Hashirama was silent, simply staring at her to let her silently know to elaborate. "I think they may be able to help me."
"Are you an orphan?" Hashirama questioned, already suspecting the answer.
Naruko took another sip of water. "Yes," she said simply. "From the day I was born."
He shared a look with his brother. It would explain why she didn't know she was an Uzumaki if her parents were killed at such an early age, but that doesn't explain her training. "How are you trained?" Tobirama asked.
She set the glass down on the floor this time. "It's kind of a long, confusing story."
Hashirama reclined back in his chair. "We have time."
Naruko met both their eyes and sighed. "Well, for starters, my village was attacked by Ku- Kyuubi the day I was born. Well," she added, ignoring their surprised stares, "less attacked and more in the way of wherever he was going."
"How old are you?" Tobirama asked. It wasn't a rare occurrence for entire villages to be wiped off the map when in the path of a biju. The Kyuubi especially seemed to be hostile and filled with hate so most just tried to avoid it.
Naruko frowned. "That depends, how long was I out?"
"Almost two days. It's October 11," Hashirama said.
"Huh," she simply said. Her brows furrowed a bit. "I'm seventeen then. My birthday's the tenth." Tobirama noticed she seemed too confused. The day you are born wasn't something too confusing, but he was right about his estimate of her age.
"Continue with your story, please," Hashirama ordered gently.
"Oh, right." Naruko rubbed the back of her neck and sighed. "My parents were some of the people that died that day trying to get out of his way until he passed. I don't know how it was possible but I somehow absorbed some of his chakra, that's where these comes from from what people told me," she explained, touching the marks on her face.
Hashirama held up and hand, silently asking her to stop.
Tobirama nodded at his brother's look, both of them focusing their sensory abilities more deeply on her chakra. The went deeper than her powerful, warm chakra until they came upon a source of very potent, dark chakra. A very large amount of it. It confirmed her story, but a newborn babe simply absorbing a biju's chakra was unheard of.
Needing to hear more of her story, Hashirama waved her on, urging her to continue.
She seemed a little annoyed by the interruption but she was also watching them cautiously, most likely searching for any sign that they might attack her after what she just revealed. "The villagers took me with them when my parents died and when the Kyuubi left, they went back to rebuild. I was told it didn't take long for people to realize that I had absorbed the chakra and they feared me, and that fear turned to hate," she explained in a calm tone, something surprising considering what exactly she was saying.
"The only people who would take care of me as a baby was an old couple but they died when I was four so I don't remember them. after that no one would take me in so I lived in the small house they had had alone. I guess the chakra and the marks reminded them too much of those they had lost.
"The only reason I knew my name was because an old man and his daughter, who ran a restaurant, knew my parents and were nice to me. Everyone always called me demon, or brat, or that kid and ignored me, keeping their kids away too."
Tobirama could see Hashirama's habit of becoming depressed starting to kick in, though he seemed to be trying to focus on her story. Tobirama didn't bother snapping at his brother this time. Her story was distressing, showing the ignorance and cruelty of people to an innocent child. Naruko was delivering the story with the tone of someone used to such treatment, like it no longer affected her, but that kind of treatment from such a young age would leave emotional scars.
Naruko smiled sadly, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them as she continued. "When I was ten, some old wandering ninja was passing through. He told me he felt the powerful chakra within me, told me why everyone hated me. He said that I had dangerously high chakra levels and to leave me untrained would run the risk of the me losing control or someone finding me and using me. I left the village with him and he trained me as we wandered. He took care of me."
By the way her eyes dulled and the softening tone of her voice Tobirama knew this man was dead, fairly recently too. "What was his name?" he asked, softening his voice.
"Jiraiya. Just Jiraiya," she said. "He taught me how to use chakra, how to fight and defend myself. He said he knew some clans that could help me with the fox's chakra but he died a few months ago protecting me. He told me to find the Uzumaki, Uchiha, or Senju Clan and that they would help me. I was trying to find them when I was attacked and used up my chakra. It's only when my levels are low that the Kyuubi's chakra comes out and I never remember what happens."
Tobirama turned to his brother when she was done. Her story fit the little facts they knew, though how someone with demonic chakra could wander for years unknown was a mystery. It would also make sense for this Jiraiya to search out the three clans she mentioned.
The Uzumaki were sealing masters that could most definitely seal the chakra and Hashirama with his wood style and sage chakra could tame the chakra as well. The Uchiha, with their sharingan, would have been able to control her if she lost control. Whoever had found her first would have gained a great advantage in the wars going on and Tobirama was immensely relieved that they had been the ones to run across her. She was a living weapon most wouldn't hesitate to use, even against her will.
It also made more sense for her to be an Uzumaki now. With their bloodline, resilience, and strength it was entirely possible for her to live with that chakra inside her. If any clan could contain a tailed beasts chakra safely, it was that one.
"I'm going to talk to my brother outside, please don't try to leave." Hashirama said, standing up and putting his chair back at the table. Tobirama followed his lead. "I'm going to take your weapons as a precaution," his brother added, snatching the weapons and scrolls up as he passed.
Naruko uncurled, stretching her legs out to lean back against the wall as she turned her head to stare at the dying fire. "My chakra's sealed and I'm outclassed by you both. I'm not dumb enough to try and leave with you here and no way to defend myself."
Hashirama nodded at her and the both of them left the cabin, making sure the door was closed behind them. They had been questioning Naruko longer than he had realized; it was twilight when they went outside, only the sound of crickets and the nocturnal creatures waking greeted them.
Once out of her sight, Hashirama's aura became depressed but he remained serious, knowing now wasn't the time for his usual antics on a normal level.
"She was telling the truth or she's a complete sociopath and an amazing actor," Hashirama sighed. "Her chakra kept steady and her body language was normal for some of the things she revealed and for someone in her situation."
"Her story makes sense, though with her teacher dead and a village that is most likely glad she's gone, there is no one to corroborate it." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Even if we did manage to find the one village that was in the Kyuubi's path seventeen years ago and it be the one in her story, they all have probably forgotten she was there or will pretend like it." Tobirama reasoned. The people of that village would have been relieved she was gone for good.
"Do you think we should tell the Uzumaki?" Hashirama asked him.
Tobirama thought it over, taking in all the facts and possible risks. "At the very least have them send Mito or her father to see what they can do about the chakra. If they want to take her in, they can ask her. We can tell her who we are since she is safest with us for now," Tobirama said, thinking of Madara and how dangerous the man might be now without his brother. "With you, if she loses control she can be stopped so it would be best for her to remain with us - hidden - until they can get here."
Hashirama nodded, leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed. "Your absence will be noticed if you remain away for much longer and we need to keep knowledge of her as quiet as possible. At most, you can stay another two days, after that I'll leave a wood clone with her. If I send a message in the morning to the Uzumaki, it would take at least a week for them to arrive with a small party."
"She needs to be put on a probationary period if we take her to the clan. Even if she has no loyalties to a clan it doesn't mean she's not a threat. How long do you think we should keep her chakra sealed?" Tobirama asked.
Hashirama frowned, glancing back at the door to the cabin. "She might grow to resent us for the loss of control. With her past, the ability to defend herself and control over her own body must be driving forces, so not too long." Hashirama mused. "She said it herself, the only reason she's being so cooperative is because she knows we can overpower her easily and she has no way of defending herself."
Tobirama had an idea that could either work wondrously in their favor or cause them to lose her. "Can you alter the seal so she has access to some of her chakra? Not all of it by any means, but enough to use basic jutsu?"
Hashirama smiled, catching on. "Showing her a sign of goodwill and giving her a reason to believe we don't mean her any harm. She could possibly stay of her own will and be more relaxed and open around us if she doesn't feel completely defenseless." Hashirama pushed himself from the wall. "I'll do it now, but then I'll have to be heading back. Try not to get into a situation like what I saw when I first arrived, we're trying to be friendly, but not that friendly," Hashirama teased.
Tobirama grunted, refusing to rise to his brother's baiting. He could already tell he would have some bruises from her targeted struggling.
He followed his brother back inside to see Naruko hadn't moved, only staring into the fire. He again found himself staring at her eyes, having never seen their like before. The reflection from the burning embers in her eyes made the violet flecks he had noticed earlier turn red. Those eyes turned on them when the reentered.
"So what's the verdict?" she asked, pushing herself up from the wall and crossing her legs.
Hashirama sat on his knees in front of her and Tobirama followed. Her eyes widened as she saw the change; them lowering to sit on her level instead of above her like before.
Hashirama smiled at her. "First off, I'll tell you our whole names. I'm Senju Hashirama but I have a feeling you already knew that, didn't you?"
Tobirama watched Naruko's eyes widen and knew he and his brother had suspected right. She had seemed to recognize them on sight when Hashirama arrived earlier and she had been unable to hide glances in their direction when mentioning the Senju Clan.
Naruko flushed, ducking her head. "I didn't know if I should say it or not. Jiraiya told me what he knew the leaders of the clan's looked like. Silver hair and red markings are kind of a give away," she said nodding in his direction. "Even if you don't come from a clan, passing shinobi aren't quiet when talking about their enemies."
Hashirama nodded. "True enough. These are dangerous times and we don't fault you for not saying anything. I am going to contact the Uzumaki Clan, they are close allies of ours, and we will both see what we can do for you." Naruko nodded, relaxing when she realized she wouldn't be held accountable for withholding information. "Unfortunately, we can not trust you enough to take you to our clan. You will have to remain here until they arrive. Tobirama will stay for a few more days and then I will have a clone with you."
"I understand," she said. "I won't cause any problems. Can I go outside, though?" she asked, cocking her head to the side.
Tobirama couldn't help but find the look on her face cute but he gave no sign of his inner thoughts. Something about her was endearing - he wanted to like her. "When you're stronger, you can go with me but we will stay close. You can not leave without me or my brother's clone, that's non-negotiable."
Naruko nodded, already perked up at just the thought of going outside. Hashirama held out a hand, the other going to his supply of ink. Naruko was confused, even more so when she saw what he had grabbed, but she pulled her sleeve up to reveal the seal and scooted forward until her arm was in Hashirama's hand.
"I'm not completely unsealing your chakra," his brother explained, already getting to work. "Most of it will still be sealed off until we trust you but I'm giving you access to enough to defend yourself with on the off chance this place is discovered."
Naruko nodded throughout his explanation, staring at the brush making small, precise lines on her arm in interest. When Hashirama was finished and finalized the seal with a flare of his chakra, the effect was immediate. Naruko's chakra had already recovered a great deal and even with access to a small amount, the small cabin they were in was flooded with warmth as her chakra rushed to the fore. She really did have incredible reserves and he wondered if all of it was a result of the fox's chakra or if she had it naturally.
Naruko's body relaxed completely and a small smile appeared on her face as she felt her chakra again. That small smile turned into a beaming grin as she looked to Hashirama. Clearly giving her access to her chakra again was the right thing to do. "Thank you!"
Tobirama felt a small smile curling at his own lips and saw his brother answering her grin with one of his own. Her mood was infectious, her personality and emotions so open compared to what they were used to and taught from a young age.
Hashirama shifted his weight to rock back on his heels and stand up. "Well, I must be heading back. Tobirama will stay with you and I'll send word when the Uzumaki are near. Ja ne," he said with a wave as he left the cabin.