Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto. Not to me.
Next chapter! Some more background on the elusive Kushina!
I just love her-without even knowing much.
I would really love for Kishimoto to delve more into this.
Or not, since I'm writing about it :P
Enjoy
Kushina had been up since before the sunlight peeked through the blinds. It wasn't that the tiny bed was uncomfortable. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She couldn't remember ever having such a plush mattress or soft sheets. No, it wasn't the room or its furnishings. Kushina hadn't slept because she had been too excited about practicing with Hiruzen.
She wasn't excited about starting at the Academy, per se, but she wanted to do something before her thoughts drove her mad. Each time she closed her eyes, she could see her parents' faces. She remembered what they looked like, lifeless and cold on the floor. She knew neither had died without a fight, but that was a weak consolation for the loss of those closest to her. Her grandparents weren't spared, either. Not even in their old age.
She pushed the sheets from her sweaty legs, cringing at the color: pink! She could handle pink, but this was bubble-gum pink. The kind of pink that signified the new baby girl that was born into the world. Kushina frowned at her bed as she ran her fingers through her now silky hair. She examined a few strands as she held them between her fingertips. Why did it have to be so red?
Her mother had always told her that her own hair had been that color when she was young. It had only turned the deep, more golden red after she had grown into her teen years. Her mother had bragged that it was her greatest asset—always turning heads wherever she went. Lady Uzumaki had her pick of the available men, but she chose Kushina's father. The two were as much in love, years later, as they had been in their teens.
Kushina had always made gagging noises when she caught her father swooping his wife up into his arms. He would bury his face in her thick mane of hair, enjoying the feel of the silky, long locks as they cascaded over his face. She sighed, remembering her mothers much-cared for hair. She never wanted long hair—it would always remind her of that moment. Of her parents' love. Of that one distinct point in time where her life had been happy.
No, she thought, as she squinted through the tears, I will always keep it short! She padded around the room, thinking about how the Sandaime would test what little knowledge and skill she had in regards to jutsu. Her father had been a shinobi for the tiny, struggling country. Her mother, too, at one time—giving it all up to become a stay-at-home-wife. She never regretted it, as she had told her daughter, years earlier. Never once. Too much bloodshed, she claimed. Besides, she preferred the role of the pampered housewife over the hardened one of a kunoichi.
Kushina had always been more of a daddy's girl. She wanted to grow up to be just like her father—a powerful, wind-jutsu wielding shinobi. Somehow, though, she had only been able to muster a few ripples in a nearby puddle —much to her own chagrin. Her father had merely smiled, telling her that she was "just like her mother!"
Kushina had burst into tears. "But I wanna be like you!" she wailed.
He smiled mussing her long, red braid, "You are more like me than you know!" He had knelt down so that their eyes had been level, his dark brown ones searching hers. "Your mother was one of the strongest kunoichi in this part of the land, did you know that?"
"M-mom?" she whimpered, wiping her eyes with a small fist.
"Mmm hmm," he nodded, his eyes flickering out of focus. "She was one hell of a shinobi. And you should be proud to have the same jutsu as her."
Kushina looked at her father, the hope faintly returning. "Really? Was she strong?" She couldn't imagine her mother being tough, or killing anyone for that matter.
Again, he nodded, "Believe it! She was one hell of a tomboy. I bet she could have beaten any boy in this village." His smile became wide, as he chuckled, "With her fists."
"Mom?" she gawked at her father in disbelief.
"Mom," he confirmed. "But don't tell her I told you that. Or you'll get a chance to see just how angry she can be!"
Kushina's eyes were wide with shock, as she nodded her understanding. Her father's calloused hand shot out for the agreement. Kushina took the warm fingers between her own tiny ones, shaking slightly. Maybe being like her mother wasn't so bad, after all...
She would never get the chance to know just how gifted her mother was. And there was no one left to tell her...
The sound of a door sliding caused her to jump. She watched the shadows move past her room, the already-familiar steps of Lady Sarutobi shuffling down the hall. Kushina heard her descend the stairs, before deciding that she would help the older woman with breakfast.
It would only make the morning pass by more quickly
"So, what do you want to start with?" Hiruzen held the door as Kushina cursed under her breath. She tugged at the unfamiliar clothing. Obviously, her and Lady Sarutobi had two different ideas about how a future kunoichi of Konoha should dress. Considering she had nothing else to wear—as her current clothing was tattered and stained beyond recognition—she couldn't turn down the attire the Sandaime's wife had chosen for her.
It was evident that Lady Sarutobi had always wanted a girl. And Kushina was not sure that she could fill that role and maintain her sanity. She tugged at the mid-thigh-length skirt. She was hoping to pull it down to knee length, but was not very successful—at least not without showing her rear end. She sighed, at least she had managed to find a pair of black spandex shorts to wear underneath. The sleeveless shirt wasn't so bad, and neither were the black, toe-less shoes. The only real problem Kushina had with the outfit (beside the fact that it had a skirt) was that it was pink!
Within two days of being in Konoha, she had successfully decided her most hated color, and it just so happened to be...pink. She would have to persuade the older woman to just hand over the cash so that she could choose her own clothes.
"I don't care," she answered the older man, her face dark.
"Father!" she heard the boy's cry from behind her. He slid across the floor after barreling down the stairs. He looked from his father to Kushina, then back to his father. "You're leaving?" he asked, his tone sad. His bottom lip began to tremble.
"Eh, I'm just going to the forest. I'm gonna see what this pipsqueak is made of!" he pointed at the pink-clad redhead.
"Hey, old man!" she shot back, as Asuma's face dropped from the realization that he was not invited. "You coming?" she asked the young boy.
His eyes lit up, as he realized she was speaking to him. He looked at his father hopefully. "Come on!" the older man nodded, a small smile on his face. "I didn't forget about you!"
"Yes!" Asuma yelled, as he stomped up the stairs. He returned a few moments later, backpack in tow. "Bye mom!" he yelled over his shoulder.
Kushina couldn't help but smile at his sudden change in demeanor. It was as if he had grown into a man before her eyes. She knew that part of that was because of his father's lack of attention. She felt sorry for the young boy.
"Ok, you two, let's get going!" the Kage barked, as he tugged a pack of cigarettes from his Hokage robe.
"Mom says you shouldn't be smoking, Dad!" Asuma warned, his eyes wide.
"Don't tell her, and she won't know!" the older man smiled as he tucked the cigarette between his lips. He looked at Kushina, "We'll pass the Academy on the way, I'll point it out to you. There are a few things we need to go over-formalities for you to be accepted."
She nodded, her heart racing with excitement. They had made it a a few yards from the Hokage Manor when the shrill, nasal-y voice of the Hokage's assistant cut through the morning mist. "Sir!"
"Ah, yes..." he began, his shoulders stiffening.
She closed the gap with a few steps, handing over a folder of paperwork, "We have a meeting this morning, or have you forgotten?" Her annoyance flashed in her eyes. She tugged at the arm of her glasses, as if adjusting them on her face. She glared at Kushina, silently blaming the young girl for the Hokage's tardiness.
"No, no, I didn't forget!" he rolled his eyes at the two children, who giggled. A sharp glare from his assistant was enough to silence them. Kushina immediately decided she disliked the stuffy woman.
"Just push it back," he handed the folders back to her, as she looked confused.
"B-but, Hokage-sama-" she began.
"I have a few things I need to do this morning," he explained as he tugged at his beard. "I'll be in later than usual."
"Hai," she bowed curtly, in defeat. Her eyes never left the young red head.
The Kage turned on foot, taking another drag from his cigarette. He said nothing more. With his chin held high, Asuma followed suit. Kushina was the last to turn and walk away, but not before she stuck her tongue out at the uptight assistant.
The woman's eyes flew open as she gasped at the rude gesture. Kushina smiled, quickly skipping to catch up to the Hokage and his son, leaving the angry woman to mutter profanities under her breath.
The red-headed refugee knew that this was the beginning of a long, and torturous relationship. She could feel it in her gut.
"There's the Academy," Hiruzen indicated with his head. "It's where students are trained before becoming Genin."
Genin, she thought. Isn't that what Jiraiya claimed Minato had just been appointed as?
"It's filled with classrooms, where you will take classes with the boys, as well as special kunoichi classes," he explained.
"Kunoichi classes?" she furrowed her brow in disappointment. "That doesn't sound good."
The Kage shrugged. Asuma mimicked the gesture, much to Kushina's annoyance. "Eh, it is what it is. You will learn how to arrange flowers and dress more feminine, among other things that a female shinobi should be aware of."
"Flowers?" she spat.
"Yes," he sighed. "You have to learn to be cultured so as to blend in if you are on special assignment," he explained. "It'll make you indistinguishable from a civilian."
"Oh," she replied softly. In that case...
"Anyway," he waved his hand, the shadow from his hat masking his face, "you'll learn the differences between the different types of jutsu, as well as how to perform basic ninja procedures."
"What if I already know how to do some of those?" Kushina asked hesitantly. She had been training with her father for quite some time, as the academy in her village had been quashed by rebels wishing to prevent the uprising of new shinobi.
"Well, if that's the case, we may be able to advance you. You could become a Genin early, though you are still quite young for that," he rubbed his beard thoughtfully.
"Am not!" she puffed out her flat chest. Hiruzen chuckled at her antics.
"Regardless, there are a few things that need to be established before you can be admitted."
"Like?"
"For one, you need to swear your allegiance to the village."
"Boring," she replied, looking at her chewed-off nails.
"But necessary," he grinned.
"What else, geezer?"
"You can't be disrespectful to the Hokage," his tone was icy.
She snorted, "You can't be serious!"
He guffawed, "Eh, you got me!" He rested his hand on Asuma's shoulder, "This is far enough into the forest, son." He looked over the young girl. Confusion registered on his face, as if he had realized what she was wearing for the first time. "Nice outfit..."
Anger flashed over her features. It was quickly replaced by something else...
She immediately burst into a cloud of smoke. Both Asuma and his father yelled, as the smoke cleared to reveal a voluptuous red-headed woman with her long locks cascading in waves over her breasts and down her back. She blew kisses at the Sandaime, batting her lashes seductively.
"Holy hell, I've died and gone to heaven!" the Kage exhaled excitedly. His eyes wandered appreciatively over her curves. It was as if his mind had shut down everywhere else, only focusing on the visual perfection before him.
"D-dad?" Asuma spoke timidly.
"Not now, son," the Sandaime rubbed his hands together.
"B-b-but...your nose!" he squealed. "It's bleeding!"
The Hokage brought his fingertips to his nostrils, finding them coated in a sticky fluid. His confusion was evident on his face as a sudden fit of giggles tore through the forest. Hiruzen blinked, realizing his fantasy woman had disappeared. His jaw hung open in disappointment, as his nose continued to bleed.
"Y-you!" he gasped, his eyes wide with shock.
Kushina was rolling around on the ground, soiling her new clothing. "Y-y-you are t-too easy, p-pervert! Y-you old p-pervert!" Tears were rolling down her cheeks, as Asuma snorted in laughter. Hiruzen shot him a dark glare.
"You really are a pervert!" she pointed at the Kage. "It was just too easy. You really fell for it!" She could barely speak between fits of laughter.
The Hokage was still standing there, his mouth ajar. Had this young girl really just used a Transformation Technique? It worked on you, he told himself. Shut up! He inwardly hissed. Done in by a ten-year-old...his face flushed with realization.
"Ok, you got me, are you happy?" he asked, an awkwardly fake smile plastered to his face.
"You even got a nose bleed!" she was on her knees, pointing at him as she clutched her stomach. She wiped tears from her blue eyes. "Did you see that, Asuma?"
The young boy kept his mouth covered, the wrinkles around his eyes betraying his allegiance. Hiruzen looked at his son through narrowed lids, "Just whose side are you on, boy?" Asuma said nothing, shaking his head furiously.
"Traitor," the Hokage mumbled under his breath, as he pulled a kerchief from his robe, and blew his nose.
Both kids were now giggling, as the Kage wiped the last bit of caked blood from his nostrils. "Transformation Technique, eh?" he asked when he could finally keep his voice under control. "Whattya call it?"
"I haven't.." she tried to calm down, "I don't have a name for it," she admitted.
"Good, keep that to yourself. It'll be very useful-" he began.
"For pervs like you!" she collapsed onto the ground again.
This time, the Kage chuckled with the two juveniles. "Fine, you got me. I admit it, ok? Just promise you won't tell my wife."
"It'll be a deal, if you can convince her to let me do my own shopping," she pointed at her outfit. "I can't handle this!"
"Hmph," he looked her over. "Deal."
She reached out a tiny hand to shake, which he reciprocated. Though the entire time, he remained in awe that he had been conned by such a young girl. A wide smile spread across her face, signaling her triumph. He realized that Jiraiya was right, she would be a knockout. Someday.
"Ok, so let's see.." he tapped his chin thoughtfully, as he pulled out his pipe. "You have had some training, right?"
"Right!" she nodded, her hands on her hips.
"Good. Do you know what basic element you use?" he asked cautiously.
"Wind," she spoke, though her tone held a slight sadness.
"Not bad," he murmured. "I've dabbled in it myself," he smirked. Her eyes lit up at his admission.
"I'm tryin' to learn, too, just like Father!" Asuma interrupted, as he tossed his backpack to the ground. "With these!" he reached into the bag, pulling out two sharp objects.
"Where did you get those?" Hiruzen barked, obviously unaware that his son had been toting around family heirlooms.
Asuma pouted, "In one of your offices. They were on the desk. I wanted to play with them." He looked ashamed as he held the weapons in his tiny hands. "I want to make you proud."
"You do make me proud, Asuma," Hiruzen replied, as he tousled his son's dark brown hair. "But these are still a bit dangerous for you to use."
"Let him try!" Kushina interrupted once she saw the look of defeat on Asuma's face. She, too, knew what it felt like to be underestimated.
"What?" the Kage confusion carried through the forest.
Kushina blushed, bowing her head slight. "I-I'm sorry," she explained. "But, at least let him try!"
Hiruzen looked over his son, as the young boy stared up at him hopefully. The elder Sarutobi reveled in how much his son reminded him of...himself.
"Ok," his voice was soft.
"Yeah?" Asuma's eyes widened.
"Go ahead. But, be careful," Hiruzen nodded. "Face away from us, toward the forest. Do you know how they work?" he asked the young Sarutobi.
Asuma shook his head, "Not yet, Father."
"Well, these are made from special metal, which you can infuse with chakra. You can use them for basic combat—throwing like kunai or shuriken—with or without chakra enhancement. They are quite powerful with enough chakra, son," he explained carefully.
Asuma nodded, screwing his face up into an expression of concentration. He tried to muster the invisible energy to his hands. He had attempted this very same thing, on many occasions, though he never made it much farther than a faint glow or pulsation. This time, however, he didn't want his father to see him fail—he wanted to make the elder Sarutobi proud of his oft-neglected son. The young boy pooled the energy from within, his hands humming with the unseen force. He mustered as much strength as he could, aiming for a tree, yards away. He cranked his arm, tossing the trench knife. It flew in a high arc, falling halfway between the boy and his target.
Asuma frowned in defeat, his eyes watering from embarrassment. Hiruzen smiled softly, "It takes practice, son."
"I'm sorry," the boy mumbled.
The Third felt a pang of sadness. He knew he had been neglecting his son since his appointment as Hokage. He wished, more than anything, he could spend more time with his family. His wife understood, but Hiruzen knew that Asuma was too young to comprehend his father's duty. "You did better than I did, my first time," he admitted.
"Really?" Asuma asked, hope filling his dark eyes.
"Really, Asuma," Hiruzen answered, his hand on his son's shoulder.
Kushina walked to where the sharp blade had fallen. She picked it up, looking at it between her soiled fingers. She could feel the slight pulsation of energy left over from Asuma's attempt. "Can I try?" she asked softly.
Asuma looked at the other blade in his hand, before shrugging, "Sure, 'Shina." He handed the other blade to the young red-head.
She wrapped her fingers through the holes, allowing the blade to sit over her knuckles, the sharp end pointing outward from her pinky fingers. She flexed her fingers maneuvering her knuckles around in the the grooves. Kushina twisted her wrist, getting a feel for how to use them.
"So, I have to put my chakra into these flimsy blades?" she spoke quietly to herself. They didn't seem too impressive, and she wasn't so sure that they would be that deadly. She concentrated her chakra into the metal, feeling it throb back into her hands. She forced more into her hands—and the blades became lighter. She made a swiping motion through the air. She could see the faint change in pressure a few feet away from her.
Did it just slice through the air that far away from me? she wondered. She couldn't see any sort of chakra indicating it. Maybe it's a property of the metal, she concluded. She smiled to herself, feeling so grown up at that conclusion. She looked at the tree Asuma had attempted to hit, and, without thinking, she chucked the blade without much effort. She hadn't expected much from the tiny movement.
"I'll be damned!" she heard the Hokage whistle.
She looked up, realizing that she had indeed hit the tree that was nearly thirty yards away. Not only that, but she had managed to created a slice that stretched up the gnarled bark.
"Wow, 'Shina!" Asuma replied, his eyes shining with admiration. "You're good!"
"I-I don't know how I did that!" she mumbled, her face reddening.
"But, the fact remains that you did!" Hiruzen replied, as he examined the tree. He ran his fingers over the bark, reveling in the sheer power propelling the blade. If she can do this with such little effort...he trailed off in his thoughts.
"Kushina, did you say you wanted to attend the Academy?" the Hokage asked over his shoulder. He needed to tell Jiraiya about this!
It took the young girl a moment to realize what the older Sarutobi had just asked. Her face was till crimson with embarrassment. "Y-yes, sir!" she called out.
"Good," his tone was light. "'Cause you start tomorrow!"