Pink Roses: There are a lot of variations of the pink rose. Over all, pink roses are used to convey gentle emotions such as admiration, joy and gratitude. Light pink rose blooms are indicative of sweetness and innocence. Deep pink rose blooms convey deep gratitude and appreciation. Pink roses also connote elegance and grace.

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Higanbana II.

They woke with the sunrise. The snowy owl – Hedwig, Tobirama remembered she called the raptor – barked about above them. Masaki didn't speak at first, but yawned and rubbed her eyes free of sleep. She stood after a moment and turned to him.

"I would like to inspect your wounds now, if that's alright with you."

Tobirama nodded and waited patiently for her to finish checking his wounds. He could barely feel them now, compared to yesterday when he could barely stand. She hmm'd a few times, but didn't look disturbed by anything, so he assumed he was fine. Although he knew a bit about the medical arts, it was Hashirama who truly knew the ins and outs of medical-ninjutsu. He'd never meet anyone who could outshine his older brother in the field, though he was impressed by Masaki's skill so far. Not even Hashirama could do some of the things she did.

"Good," she said with a relieved sigh. "It looks like everything is already on the mend. You didn't pull anything loose in your sleep. And you don't feel any negative affects from yesterdays potions?"

He raised an eyebrow. "No. Should I?"

She chuckled and shook her head. "No, not at all. Still, there is always the chance you might, given that some people have allergies to the ingredients in my potions. It is very rare someone would be allergic to a blood replenisher or pepper-up, however, so I never even thought to check. I apologize for that oversight, Senju-sama."

Tobirama nodded. "I see. It's understandable you would overlook something so rare in the heat of the moment. I was already one foot in the grave, so I think the risk was well worth it."

Masaki smiled, relieved, and stood up. "Well, you're good to go. I'll get us a few rations from my bag, and then we'll start out. We should reach Konoha before afternoon if we can keep a fast pace."

Tobirama watched as the ravenette walked to her bag, which was leaned up against the tree she'd slept in (on a branch), and reached in for the food. He might usually protest taking the time to eat, wanting to get home as soon as possible, but he knew they'd need the energy for the run.

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As estimated, Tobirama and Masaki made it to the gates of Konoha just after noon. For the most part, Tobirama was healed enough to move without her help. The shock enveloping the sentries faces when they saw the two approaching was almost laughable (Masaki didn't think it would've endeared her to the guards had she).

When Tobirama gave them his ninja registration and demanded they open the gates, the guards on duty nodded and obeyed without question. They didn't get far before three ANBU appeared to them; causing even more of a confused whisper among the villagers. The ANBU were rarely ever seen by the villagers, so seeing them in the middle of the day caused many to turn their heads and whisper.

"Lord Second..." a badger masked ANBU said, as if lost for words. "Sir, we were under the impression you were..."

"Dead?" Tobirama asked, and then nodded. "I nearly was. For now lets keep my survival inside the village."

"Of course, Hokage-sama." The ANBU with an unidentifiable mask turned to look at the raven-haired woman standing slightly behind Tobirama. "And who's this, sir?"

"She's the reason I'm alive," was all he said, but that was all that needed to be said as far as the three ANBU were concerned.

"Sir, allow us to escort you to the Hospital."

Tobirama shook his head. "Not now. Masaki has healed the majority of my wounds, and as I've made it this far I trust in her skills as a medic." The badger masked ANBU's body language (and the others, honestly) looked as if he wished to disagree, but one look from Tobirama left no room for argument.

Masaki chose to let Tobirama speak. This was his village, his people, and she had nothing to say. To her, it appeared he wanted to keep her relation to Mito and the Uzumaki to himself. She noticed he hadn't given her surname to them either, which was no surprise as the Tōkō clan was known to the major clans (at the very least) as the cousin clan and dirty secret of the Uchiha. He obviously wanted to keep it as quiet as possible for now.

"Is Mito at the Hokage residence or the Senju compound?" the second fire shadow inquired. The ANBU answered quickly, saying she and her family were currently gathered at the Hokage residence, awaiting news on a body retrieval. They'd missed a team, comprised of Tobirama's students, being sent out to find a body by a mere hour.

Needless to say, they wouldn't find a body.

The ANBU disappeared into the shadows soon after they'd answered Tobirama's questions. Leaving Masaki and Tobirama to make their way to the Hokage residence – a more recent addition built near the Academy. Though she hadn't seen much, Masaki already saw Konoha as beautiful. Were as Uzushio was rolling green hills and jungle-like forest that reminded her of home (and by home she meant Hogwarts), Konoha was lush forest and mostly flat lands.

Even the architecture was different. While Uzushio had almost modernized tall buildings, some being nearly skyscrapers, Konoha was traditional with only a touch of a modern flare. It was probably one of the most impressive places she'd been, and she'd been traveling since she was seventeen.

Masaki came out of her thoughts soon after they reached their destination. When they opened a large set of doors into a room laid out like a study, it was nearly instantaneous that she heard loud distinct gasps. She wasn't noticed right away, despite standing out with her black hair and green eyes next to the white-haired Hokage. For obvious reasons, everyone's attention was on Tobirama. While they focused on him, Masaki observed those gathered in the room.

She spotted her mother's cousin first. Mito looked a lot like her mother and grandmother. She was average height (the same height as Masaki – five foot five), fair skinned, and slender in build. She wore a more traditional kimono with a high neck, and an obi (sash) with the Uzumaki spiral. Her eyes were large, pupiless, and dark. So dark they looked black, but were actually charcoal green. Her hair was the common dark crimson of the Uzumaki clan, but looked to be dulling in her older age.

It was almost startling, given the longevity of the Uzumaki clan (and Mito was a full blooded Uzumaki princess). She still looked younger than her years, but not by much. Mito was no older than Masaki's own mother, fifty-six, soon to be fifty-seven, but Mito looked closer to sixty than her parents did.

Masaki noticed the rhombus on Mito's forehead, and wondered if it didn't have a hand in Mito's appearance. Either way, Mito didn't have too many wrinkles – just laugh lines around her mouth and the start of crinkles by her eyes. She certainly looked different than she remembered, but she'd been about six or seven the last time she'd seen Mito. back then, Mito was in her prime (around twenty-eight).

Close to Mito was a young woman who looked no older than her mid-to-late twenties, but given her resemblance to Mito, was probably closer to Masaki's age. She had long dark-red hair, however, unlike Mito she wore it down past her waist.

Her skin was peach toned, her build slender, and she had dark sea-green eyes. All that said, she looked so much like Mito she could only be the woman's daughter. The woman held a small child of her own; a child with blonde hair in two pig-tails, peach skin, and wide light-brown eyes which held a hint of confusion in them.

There was two men also in the room. The first man was probably the younger redheads husband, given his resemblance to the toddler. He was tall (about five foot ten), built for speed and strength, peach skinned, with blond hair and the same light-brown eyes.

The last man was the first to notice her, since he was looking into her eyes when she turned her gaze to him. He was nearly six foot, lightly tanned, his hair was dark brown and slightly past his shoulders, and his eyes were narrow and dark. He must be Mito's son, Masaki thought.

"...Hiruzen and Danzō said you were dead!" Mito exclaimed after she'd finished fussing over her brother-in-law.

"I very nearly was."

"Uncle, you should be at the hospital," the younger redhead said, concerned for his health.

"That can wait, Ritsuko," Tobirama said. "I've been healed of any major wounds."

"Who's your companion, uncle?" the dark haired man asked. That's when everyone's attention turned.

"Huh?" Ritsuko muttered and looked over to where her brother gestured. Sure enough, there was a young woman standing by her uncle. How they'd overlooked her, Ritsuko hadn't the foggiest. She was probably younger, going by appearance alone, but her eyes were wiser and mature beyond her years.

She was also very pretty (maybe even beautiful), with noble features – a heart-shaped face, high cheekbones, button nose, and cherry lips. Her hair was extremely long and flowing, black like a crows wings, fair skin, with the only noticeable blemish being a birthmark on her forehead shaped like lightning.

She was of slender build, but curvy and her clothes weren't shy about showing that. Ritsuko could've mistaken her for a civilian geisha, if not for the toned muscles and way she held herself. Her eyes were what caught her attention the most, however. They were almond-shaped and an otherworldly emerald green. She didn't think she'd ever seen eyes so green or bright.

By her side, Mito gasped. "Saki-chan, is that you?"

Masaki smiled. "I'm surprised you recognize me. It's been, what, almost two decades now?"

Mito laughed before pulling her cousin's eldest child into a hug. "Twenty-nine years this summer. It's hard to forget an Uzumaki – even a half-blood – with black hair, my dear."

"This is Tōkō Masaki, your mother's cousin once removed. She saved me, took out the Kumo-nin I couldn't, and then healed me," Tobirama explained while the two women had their long awaited reunion.

"Wait. This is aunt Yuri's estranged daughter?" Itsuki, Mito's son, asked. He honestly hadn't expected that.

"Estranged?" Masaki chuckled. "I suppose that's what it looks like on the outside."

"She is, son," Mito said after releasing her cousin from the crushing hug.

She and Yuri had always been more like sisters, having been born in the same year but six months apart. As a result, Mito began seeing Yuri's children as her nieces and nephew. Despite the distance between them, Mito had seen them a few times over the years; Yuri and her younger three children had come to Hashirama's funeral.

Jin, Yuri's husband, was unable to make it because of issues within the clan he had to take care of as clan head. Masaki had been traveling and unreachable at the time. But even if she had been contacted, Masaki would've been too far away to make it to Konoha in time.

"The last time I spoke to Yuri, she said you were exploring the world and refusing to give her any grandchildren."

Masaki laughed. "That sounds like mom," she mused. "I was on my way here when my summon told me about a battle ahead of us. That's how I came across Senju-sama."

"Senju-sama?" Itsuki snorted, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "Does he make you call him that?"

Masaki's lips twitched into a smirk. "Only in the bedroom."

Tobirama's usually cool expression faltered as his eyes got just a little wider. Ritsuko howled with laughter, unable to stop herself, and her husband (who's name still escaped Masaki) smiled in amusement. Mito hid her smile behind her sleeve, while Itsuki choked on his saliva. Masaki snickered, an unholy mischief blooming in her green eyes: one shouldn't try to out marauder a marauder (or a marauder's daughter).

"In all seriousness though, he hasn't given me permission to call him anything else. I didn't want to offend him."

Tobirama regained his composure and coughed into his hand. "Tobirama is fine, Tōkō-san."

"Tobirama-san, then." She smiled up at him. "And please, Masaki is fine. Tōkō-san is too formal for my liking."

"You two are getting along better than I thought," Mito said, smiling. After a second she turned to Masaki. "Thank you for saving Tobirama, Masaki-chan. It's not been long now I had to bury Hashirama. I don't know if I could've handled another funeral."

"Yes, thank you," Itsuki said, getting over his prior freak-out.

"T-nk you," a much smaller voice echoed the adults, and Masaki looked to the toddler Ritsuko held.

She grinned. "It was nothing..."

"Nothing? It sounds like you had quite the fight if Tobirama-sama couldn't handle them alone," Tsuneo, Ritsuko's husband, said. "I think Hiruzen mentioned the Kinkaku force."

"She was very impressive. She took out Kinkaku himself."

Multiple pairs of eyes widened.

"That is impressive," Itsuki said with a whistle, and he grinned soon after. "We should spar sometime."

"Oh, sure thing," Masaki said, a spark of excitement in her tone.

"So, how long are you staying?" Ritsuko asked. "Are you staying?"

Masaki nodded. "At least until the war is over. Maybe longer, I haven't decided yet."

Ritsuko grinned and handed Tsunade off to her husband. "That's wonderful!" She looped her arm with Masaki's elbow. "We can get to know each other, cousin."

Masaki's eyes widened slightly, unsure how to approach this development. She'd only ever had one cousin in her prior life, and her relationship with Dudley had been Christmas cards and the occasional meeting for tea at his house. She'd bring Teddy and he'd entertain Dudley's three children, all the while she and Dudley had an awkward conversation.

Her father had a sister in this lifetime, Setsuko, but she was single and had no children (and it looked like she had no plans to settle down either). Her mother was an only child this time, so the only cousins Masaki had were distant ones. Most of whom she didn't know very well.

She'd been equally as lost when her mother had her brother and sisters. Haruto was her only brother, and while he might have taken after their father facially, he had the Uzumaki red hair. His eyes were the same hazel as their father. Her two sisters took after the Uzumaki side of the family, both having wavy (almost curled in places) red hair, but they also had their father's hazel eyes.

Sayaka and Sanae were easily mistaken for twins, and they enjoyed acting the part, but they'd actually been born a year apart. She was seven, thirteen, and fourteen years older then her brother and sister's respectively. Being an only child before, it took her some time to adjust to having siblings. But when she did, well, Masaki couldn't imagine this life without them.

Ritsuko began dragging her from the room, reminding her of Ginny when the youngest Weasley had too much caffeine. Looking over her shoulder, Masaki caught the amusement in their eyes, and her almost pleading gaze turned to Tobirama. His usual stoicism greeted her, but as she was pulled from the room she swore she saw his lips twisting up into an amused smirk.

Mito chuckled once they were gone. "I hope Ritsuko goes easy on the poor girl. Masaki has always been mature beyond her years, even back when she was six years old. Sort of reminiscent of you, Tobi."

"Hmm." Tobirama crossed his arms over his chest. Masaki's character actually reminded him more of his brother, in that she wasn't afraid to be emotional. She'd seen a lot in her lifetime, he could see it in her eyes, but she'd not allowed that to change her ability to feel. He'd seen in many shinobi, himself included, how war could change a person.

Tobirama himself didn't remember a time when he wasn't a stern, composed, and pragmatic person. He'd been training since he could hold a kunai and run without tripping. He didn't remember a time he'd not been worried about losing one of his brothers or clansmen to the clan wars while growing up. Hashirama would say he was too serious, too far-sighted and prideful, that he needed to loosen up and live-a-little. Their definition of living-a-little was vastly different.

Masaki said herself that she remembered the warring period between clans. He didn't doubt it, she certainly was old enough, but she had the advantage of being born in Uzushio. Because it was an island separated from the rest of the countries, the war wasn't as heavily felt there.

But the Uzumaki and Tōkō, the two major clans of the island, did eventually have to leave the safety of home for work, which was when they felt the most affects from the war. They had a particularly nasty feud with the Kaguya clan of Water Country and the Hagoromo clan of Fire.

It wasn't unlikely that Masaki would've fought in the clan wars, given the Tōkō clan's policy on kunoichi. Unlike some clans, who preferred to keep their women off the frontlines, the Tōkō clan saw no difference in gender. If they could learn to hold a weapon and use chakra, than they were capable of fighting alongside their brothers and fathers.

Given her age, however, Masaki probably only became involved during the tail end of the warring clans, and Tobirama felt relieved knowing that. It was dangerous times for everyone back then, but especially for kunoichi (who outside a few clans were used as medics and seduction and infiltration specialist). Having been at war for over two years now, Tobirama couldn't say that anything had changed all that much.

"..rama. Tobirama!"

Tobirama's head shot over to catch Mito's dark eyes and he sighed. "I'm sorry, I was thinking deeply..."

"We could see that, uncle," Itsuki said. "We were discussing living arrangements for Masaki. She'll need somewhere to live while she's here."

"I suggested she could stay with Ritsuko, Tsunade, and I," Tsuneo said, holding the now sleeping toddler.

"I'm going to be writing Yuri today. I'm sure she wants to know her daughter has made it here safely," Mito began, "And I'm sure she'll be interested to know we're helping Masaki settle in. As family, I think she should stay within the Senju compound... I doubt the Uchiha will allow her to stay with them."

Tobirama's eyes narrowed at the mention of the Uchiha and Masaki possibly staying with them. The idea made his stomach turn in rejection – he chalked it up to his distrust of the clan with Masaki. Kagami was the only Uchiha he'd come to trust in his entire life, and that had taken years of knowing the boy. He absolutely did not trust the current clan head, the nephew of Madara and son of Izuna.

Hashirama had accused him of blaming the boy for the sins of his uncle and father, but Tobirama didn't think he'd been so unfair in his assessment of Uchiha Kaname. The man was just as ruthless as his grandfather Tajima had been. He coveted power in all shapes and forms, and Tobirama didn't want Masaki, who'd proven to be fairly powerful already, to catch Kaname's attention.

"No. She can stay in the cottage."

Mito, Itsuki, and Tsuneo were all surprised. The cottage wasn't as small as some cottages, in fact, it looked like any other traditional home, with five bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen/dinning, and sitting room. But it was located near the edge of the compound and was the first home built there by Hashirama himself.

It was a getaway, a place to go when either of them wanted more privacy or downtime. Unlike the other homes in the compound the cottage was more secluded, tucked into a forested area, with a pond Tobirama himself had kept up and placed koi fish in. It hadn't been used in years, though. To let someone use the home was him placing a lot of trust in Masaki, but Mito realized Tobirama had started to truly trust Masaki, who'd saved his life when she was under no obligation to.

"Good. Now that we've got that decided," Mito began, placing her hands on her hips. "Come sit down and I'll look at your injuries. I don't doubt Masaki-chan's abilities; no doubt Yuri-chan has taught her daughter well, but I'd feel better if I took a look and made sure nothing was missed."

Tobirama sighed, knowing there was no way to decline Mito's check up without angering or offending the redhead. Deciding not to put up a fight, Tobirama sat down and allowed his sister-in-law to poke and prod at his battle scars.

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Masaki was in awe of Konoha. One of the first places Ritsuko dragged her off too was a rooftop, where she could see most of the village. It was exactly like she'd heard from her younger brother, Haruto, who'd been here multiple times to talk about the alliance between Uzushio and Konoha. It was a yearly talk, usually alternating which representative was sent to whose village.

Since the Uzumaki and Tōkō clan's were the most influential of Uzu no Kuni (Land of Whirlpools) and Uzushio, Haruto was chosen because of his blood; having both Uzumaki and Tōkō blood and being the Tōkō clan heir – soon to be clan head – he made the perfect ambassador between the villages.

Uncle Ashina had tried to convince her to take the job, probably no more than two years after Konoha was founded (while she was on the start of her journey), but she turned it down. She wasn't interested in politics, it was why she'd declined being the next clan head and passed the torch down to her brother. She'd been intertwined in all the grittiness of politics in her first life.

As the head of the Potter family and heir to the Black family until Teddy became of age, she'd no choice. Her career choice hadn't helped matters. Even her afterlife was full of pseudo-politics as the Mistress of Death, and Masaki was more than ready to take a step back from it all.

Haruto was a born leader (many would say the same about Masaki, though), and in her opinion he was doing a better job than she could've. Her younger sisters, Sayaka and Sanae, born a year apart and regularly mistaken for twins, were never a thought for the position, however; they were simply too flighty for the position.

She smiled to herself and wondered how her family was doing back in Uzushio. It might seem as if she was intentionally avoiding them, even ignoring them, but just because she didn't see them for months at a time, did not mean she had no correspondence with them. Her owl contract came from her father, the Tōkō clan having the contract for decades now.

She exchanged letters often with her family, even if she went months without ever seeing them in the flesh. Family would always be the most important part of Masaki's life (this was true as both Hari and Masaki; no matter how much she changed over the centuries).

She was blessed in this life: she had her parents, three younger siblings she adored, and the freedom to go where she pleased. Most importantly, there was no prophecy hovering over her head like a chaotic black cloud.

"It's beautiful, huh?" In her peripheral vision she saw Ritsuko standing next to her.

"It is," she replied.

"Is it anything like Whirlpool?" Ritsuko asked, genuinely curious. She didn't remember ever meeting her second cousin, other than Aunt Yuri's youngest three. Although they hadn't met often. She saw Haruto the most given his role as ambassador between their villages. They were a bit younger than her, closer to her brother's age.

On the other hand, she was closer in age to Masaki. The raven haired woman was about five years older than her, though she hardly looked it. Nearly thirty herself, Ritsuko was beginning to develop small lines at her eyes and mouth, however faint. Masaki had no such blemishes yet, but given her ties to the Uzumaki and Tōkō clan, she wasn't surprised. Longevity was associated with both clans, even before the Tōkō flourished after the last clan heiress married the runaway Uchiha generations ago.

"You've never been there yourself?" Masaki asked, surprise seeping into her voice.

Ritsuko shook her head. "No. Not that I remember, anyway. Mom and dad visited a few times when I was a toddler, but I honestly don't remember. I've never had a reason to go that far from home, and mom hasn't returned to Uzushio since I was a small child."

Masaki couldn't help but find the irony in that. Ritsuko looked so much like her mother's side of the family. Yes, she had the eye shape more reminiscent of her father, but her build, hair, and eyes were obviously that of the Uzumaki. To think Ritsuko had no memories of ever being in Uzushio was almost unbelievable to her, someone who had been born and raised there. Yet it made sense.

"Uzushio is beautiful, but in a very different way than Konoha and the Land of Fire. Whirlpool is full of hills and trees, rivers that spiral through the island. My favorite part is when the sun-sets, and a crimson glow is cast across the island and water." Masaki smiles, a pit forming in her stomach that quickly filled with a feeling of homesickness.

Had it been so long since she'd last been home? Thinking about it, she realized it had been. She decided then that when the war ended she'd return home for a while, but until then she would write home and let her parents and siblings know she was safe. She at least owed them that much.

"It sounds wonderful," Ritsuko said with a large grin. "One day I'd like to visit there with Tsuneo and Tsunade."

There was a small awkward silence before Ritsuko looked over at the raven haired woman and asked, "Do you want to clean up? We're not far from a hot spring; we can relax and freshen up, and then meet up with everyone at my home." It wasn't outright said everyone would meet up at Ritsuko and Tsuneo's home, but the redhead figured it would be one of the first places the others would look for them once her uncle had sorted everything out with the council.

"That would be nice," Masaki admitted. It had been a while since she'd come across a hot-spring (or any kind of bath house) and she felt she was long overdue for a soothing bath – or as close as she could get in this era.

If there was one thing she missed from her first life, it was indoor plumbing. There were toilets, but they weren't something every home had yet. Most were either public or private outhouses. Showers as she'd known them were yet to be imagined, much less installed in every home. It was a far cry from what she'd become used to as Hari Potter, and she'd never had to worry about such things before her rebirth.

Spirits didn't exactly have to worry about such mortal woes.

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Later that day, Ritsuko and Masaki exited the hot springs. Masaki had changed into a simple, comfortable Kimono and sealed her weapons and gear into an oversized scroll she slung at the back of her waist (said scroll had been sealed into the inner sleeve of her other clothes). It had been sealed in the same scroll, along with many of her other supplies, and was something she'd acquired during her travels.

The kimono was simple: a pretty crimson color with white lily flowers along the edges of the sleeves and bottom of the kimono. A black obi was pulled snug around her waist. These were the colors of the Tōkō clan, which ironically were the same which made up the Uchiha fan.

Maybe it was something her ancestor, the runaway Uchiha, had brought to the clan from his own, Masaki honestly didn't know. There hadn't been much knowledge about the clan retained from before her ancestor married Uchiha Masamune.

Walking through Konoha, Masaki noticed she garnered many odd looks. Some were confused, while others were contemplative – as if they thought her familiar but couldn't figure out from where they recognized her. She noticed some whispers among the women they passed, and she caught some men looking her up and down with lust.

That wasn't unusual, but it was more than she was used to, and she'd been to many different places. Some places she stood out terribly because of her rather fair skin tone. Other times because she was an attractive woman traveling on her own, commonly dressed in such a way she was mistaken for a geisha, who were looked upon in a mixed light by shinobi and civilian alike.

So, no, Masaki wasn't a stranger to being stared at (in either lifetime), but this was starting to make her uncomfortable.

Noticing how uncomfortable her cousin was becoming, Ritsuko rushed them along towards the Senju compound. It was a few minutes from the center of the village, and marked by a large cherry blossom tree near the middle of the compound that could be seen even outside the gates. Being April the tree was bloomed and very beautiful. It was special to Ritsuko's family, as it was grown by her father with his Mokuton soon after Konoha was built.

Sure enough, when they arrived at Ritsuko's home they found Mito, Tsuneo, and Tobirama inside. Itsuki wasn't there. He'd gone his separate way sometime earlier. When the two girls entered, Tobirama was the first to notice. He'd sensed them minutes before they even entered the house.

He was somewhat surprised by how attuned to Masaki's chakra signature he'd become in such a short time, but her chakra was oddly chaotic and soothing all at once. It was memorable. Her clothes were different, just a simple red, white, and black kimono, and she looked more relaxed and refreshed than before. They'd probably been to one of the hot springs in the village.

"Ritsuko, Masaki," Mito began with a smile. "Did you enjoy your time in the village?"

"Very much so," Masaki replied. "Konoha is larger than I expected. Much larger than Uzushio..."

"It is." Mito nodded. "You'll get used to it, especially if you stay awhile."

Ritsuko went to Tsuneo's side, placing a kiss on his cheek and sitting down beside him. Masaki continued to stand, looking over when Tobirama walked up to her.

"Did you straighten everything out with your ninja, Tobirama-san?" she asked, rather curious.

Tobirama made a small sound that sounded like a short hum in the back of his throat and said, "In part. A hawk has been sent out to inform Hiruzen and his squad to return to the village. They should be back before nightfall. All that's left is to deal with whatever affect my survival has on the war."

She nodded. "Hopefully it'll mean the end of the war sooner rather than later."

"Hopefully," Tobirama echoed. "Anyway, I'll show you to the place you'll be staying until you decide to leave."

Masaki blinked owlishly, honestly surprised. She hadn't even thought about where she'd stay. "Oh?"

"Hmm. You'll be staying in a cottage on the outskirts of the compound." Tobirama looked at his sister-in-law, niece and her husband. "I'll return with Masaki later for dinner, Mito."

"Good," Mito said, nodding. "I'll be starting soon, so be at the main house in about two hours."

"Dinner?" Masaki asked.

"You didn't think I'd let you starve, Saki-chan?" Mito chuckled. "Today is a day to celebrate! A family dinner to celebrate the safe return of Tobirama and his team, and your first time here in Konoha."

Masaki felt her heart touched by emotions of happiness and relief at being welcomed among her cousins family. It had been a long time since she felt welcomed by anyone but her own clan.

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A beautiful, middle aged woman who still looked much more youthful than her actual age, was tending to a lush garden outside a traditional home when a familiar snowy owl appeared in her line of sight.

Holding her hand up to shield her emerald eyes from the sun, Tōkō Yuri smiled upon recognizing Hedwig. She placed her watering can down and dusted her hands off on her apron. Then held out her arm for the owl to land on.

"Hello, Hedwig," Yuri said, pushing a strand of her crimson hair behind her ear before taking the letter offered.

"Hello, Yuri-sama," Hedwig greeted, and hoped off to rest on one of the many bird perches around the Tōkō compound (for wild birds and summons alike).

Yuri scanned the letter, smiling through most of it. She became a little worried when the letter from her daughter mentioned a battle with the Kinkaku force and her rescue of the Nidaime Hokage, of all people, but that soon turned to pride.

Yuri knew her daughter was somewhat disconnected from people, especially those her own age. She got along better with those older than her, probably because she'd hardly been a child as a child. She was considered a prodigy among the clan, mature beyond her years, but Yuri and Jin knew the truth.

She was an old soul, one who had retained memories of living for many centuries before her rebirth. Masaki tried to be what was considered normal among children of the era, and she did have a few friends, but she'd never been able to truly connect with the children of her generation.

Yuri and Jin were lucky. They'd had a regular childhood, despite the constant war going on between the clans. They had no idea of their lives as Lily and James Potter until after their daughter's birth. They were happy to remember, and even happier to be able to give their precious daughter the childhood she deserved, to live without the threat of a dark lord hanging over them, but they'd never tried to treat her too much like a child. They'd known since she was able to speak she knew who she was.

She and Jin worried about their daughter. As soon as Masaki was old enough she'd asked for traveling rights. Ashina was hard pressed to allow it at first, but Yuri was able to help her daughter convince the Uzumaki leader. It probably helped that Yuri was Ashina's favorite and only niece, even if it was through his wife's side of the family.

Maybe staying in Konoha with their distant cousins for a while would help Masaki become more in-tune with mortals again, because Yuri could tell that had been one of the hardest hurdles for Masaki after her rebirth.

She'd spent so long as something practically godly, she'd forgotten how to be human.