Fire Flower Chapter 4: All Part of the Healing Process, a naruto fanfic

Edited&Posted: 12/14/15

Fire Flower

Minato had thought the day would be a normal one when he had come into class that day.

Even in that moment he would have no idea the sort of meaning it would contain at a later date—he would never know the sort of change it would have in his life, in everything he held close and dear.

Simply no clue that it was fate, the moment she walked into the classroom and met his eyes.

It was almost instantaneous and his first impression was that he perhaps had laid his eyes on the prettiest looking one in the entire class. Her skin just simply looked so smooth to the touch, white in sharp contrast to the vibrant hair. A color he'd never honestly seen flow or shine in such a manner, sent something like glinting fire across his eyes every time she decided to move. It was cut into a bob—which he honestly had to say did not suit her the way long hair might have—but no one could deny that this girl, probably his age, could not be taken as anything but a thing of beauty. Not to mention how her violet eyes, so vivid in color he had to do a double take, flashed with shock upon meeting his own.

She seemed to stumble over her words, and the classroom chittered at seeing the pretty girl flounder. Even now he could sense the envy in the air, and his eyes flitted to the side of the room crowded with the kunoichi. They looked on with curiosity, but a few looked dark with expression.

"I'll be the first female hokage, 'ttebanne!"

Her voice broke into thoughts and it was then that he finally took real notice in her.

Some eyes flashed to his position but he didn't physically acknowledge them. He was too focused on the way her eyebrows were set on her forehead, the tightness around her eyes and the clenching of her fists and jaw.

Kushina Uzumaki, she had said.

"Ne, looks like Namikaze-kun has some competition," Shigeru said, his voice familiar in the way that it grated against his ears. The other boy always did speak up first—often Minato wished he hadn't.

This case was no exception, especially when Kushina tilted her face up to his once more, eyes filled with a mixture of anger and sadness. He was tempted to speak up, and his hand went up to put some form of a stop to everything but he was beat by the next voice.

It was her.

"I'm serious!" Yet she did not seem genuine in her words, sounding filled with panic and desperation. Her cheeks began to turn red, her cheeks puffing up, fists tightening up.

"Ah, she looks like a tomato!"

Minato nearly choked on his spit, and couldn't say anything else because he could not unsee what had come to mind at the words.

She looked cuter, seeming to be an impossible feat, and that hair cut almost seemed to accentuate the appearance. Her cheeks were considerably fuller in look than what he would imagine her with long hair would look like.

"Is that a challenge?" Kushina screeched out, taking a step forward that reverberated in the classroom. This was right before her hair seemed to take a life of its own, sending out waves of movement through the short strands. "I'll take any of you on and win!"

At that point, Minato didn't doubt it. Chakra in the hair? Definitely a level of control most kids in his class could never come close to.

She wanted to become Hokage?

Honestly, he couldn't see her holding such a title, as she looked every bit as a miniature wreck but Minato had never been the type to take dreams away from others.

He would be earnest in how he treated her. Perhaps he could learn something from her, if that were the case.

All Part of the Healing Process

The next day in class, I found myself sitting bored in it, twiddling my thumbs as Ruta pretty much retaught everything I'd already learned in Uzushio. The only thing different was the addition of brain washing in the form of talking about how great Konoha was. Which is something that went by the others, probably because I would forever be the outsider.

Talks of how great something was, even as I already knew to it be false, were sort of ridiculously easy to spot for what it was.

I yawned, scratching at my cheek before looking over to the only one who seemed to be just as bored—the very boy sitting right next to me.

In the corner of my eye, I watched as he solved math problems in his text book, creating them and solving them in an unending cycle of scratching sounds on the pulp. It was almost humorous in an odd sort of way, but when I saw he was completing problems even I had issues with, there came a hint of annoyance along with the curiosity.

I deliberated on what to do, knowing I had to do something or I'd go insane.

Nibbling on my lip and inwardly growling at the blonde, I opened my textbook to clear page. Then, hinking of the hardest problem I could and writing it down, I shifted it over so he could see. Minato looked at me inquisitively, eyes filled with questions before copying the problem onto his own paper and solving it in just a mere matter of seconds. He looked up, smiling broadly as if he had thought I was trying to make friends.

I openly scowled, darkly narrowing my eyes to slits before pursing my lips so thin they ached.

With a scrunch to my brows, I set out to make an impossible solve.

It took me a few minutes, but when I finally created it, he was already waiting with open eyes, and the cycle of before only went on to be repeated as he easily completed what seemed like—to me—an impossible math problem.

I studied his answer, almost thinking he made it up.

So I wrote on my paper, a tad bit put off, Can you show me how you did that?

Instead of outright replying, he just rewrote the problem out and explained each step he took in great, unnecessary, detail.

I blinked, realizing with dawning horror that the boy was some sort of math genius. Smarter than me, surely, and with a noticeable leg up for the Hokage cloak.

My frown deepened as I looked to my paper, preparing for a deep lengthy discussion in my head about ways to approach becoming better with the skill. I was just about to get lost when I felt myself jump.

You know, I wrote onto his own paper, as I moved closer to him, being good at math isn't one of the traits to become Hokage. I added a frown-y face with determination filling me before continuing with an angry scrawl, I'll become the first female Hokage. Just you watch!

It was a bit stupid, honestly, but the feeling of wanting to hit something did not want to leave. I felt my right leg jostle with the pent up energy, and I even began to restlessly hit my pencil against my wrist. Juts for good measure, I scooted a tiny bit away, trying hard to keep my eyes on the bored and our shared teacher. With straying eyes, and a deeply rooted agitation, I secretly studied his face as he read my message.

Carrying the tiniest of smiles, he returned the favor by shifting his body to fit in closely, his arm rubbing up against mine before he grabbed my journal, pencil poised to start writing.

I leaned away while he did so, trying not to notice the way his body heat crept through his hoodie to spread its way up my skin, raising the small hairs before I felt him leave too quickly. Too slow, I mean.

Grinding my teeth down, I slapped the invading hairs away from my face before coming to loom over the paper, noticing the gentle curve to his writing, the wispy lines that looked so unlike my ruthless shorthand, it was pitiful.

I'll cheer you on, if you cheer me on.

He could probably be a better sealmaster—no, no, he would not learn to become that. It was me that had that particular upperhand.

Wasting not even a second, I replied by whispering into his ear, unwilling to face his writing anymore, as I did my best not to be overheard, "May the best one win." My lips brushed past him for such a strange second that it was with horror when I pulled away.

Near seething, I slammed my book closed and promised to rip the pages out later before looking over to tell him off.

I reeled back, nearly cursing when I saw it.

Minato was blushing. Blushing.

My own face flamed brightly in response, most likely with anger. So gross!

Feeling of dismay and irritation, I cupped my cheeks with my cooler hands and prayed Minato would leave me alone.

He did, going back to his stupid math problems and never leaving them until the class ended.

Unfortunately, Ruta wasn't our taijutsu teacher, which ultimately ended the silence between us.

He just taught us the things for the written exam and the intellectual sort of things that Minato did so well at. Kurosawa Hajime, a middle aged woman with a strict regime, took care of the taijutsu training for the entire grade. If was an honest one, I would admit she was pretty scary, but she was sincerely trying to get us prepared for the worst—and this was something only a few in the class realized.

Much of the time I could overhear complaint after complaint, and rude rumors where it concerned the dark haired woman. Personally, I was totally okay with her and the teaching methods she used, thinking that she resembled Satsuki a little in that nature, but that was in the past, I vowed.

Today was sparring day, to showcase all we had learned in class, and being as I had only been in school for two days, I only had my clan's fighting techniques.

I had excelled in my last school, having been only second to Ichigo and even then, I had been able to beat him on the rare occasion that I was motivated. But here, Kurosawa had been appalled when she saw me practicing the katas of my clan. It seemed she was absolutely hell-bent on wanting all girls to fight like girls; defensive, smooth, and clever.

Apparently I was too boyish, fighting with my weight instead of working on my evasion skills. With instinct, I moved like a shadow, Ichigo had said, coming in for attacks and slamming them in instead of waiting. I liked to use my flexibility, my slight stature and speed for making my foes endlessly surprised.

She said I wasn't strong enough for that sort of style, claiming my bones would soon be frail with my dangerous actions—my body couldn't keep up with my mind.

But Jurata nor anybody in Uzushio had ever said such things! I was soon coming to be convinced that Uzumaki biology was also different from the norm.

After all, I was comfortable with how I fought, and she couldn't take away what made me an Uzumaki.

But I did not dislike her for this—in fact I could admire her passion and care.

From the way she spent more time with the girls than the boys, I could tell she held a lot of pride for kunoichi. More so than that, however, she held pride in the fact even with the feminine way of fighting, it could cause even more damage in the long term, wearing down the foe with an unending supply of stamina. She wanted us all to succeed, I felt, and most of all she probably wanted for us the girls to catch up in numbers.

I just wished she gave up on changing me though. She was probably disappointed anyway, but I knew she was much like the will of fire Konoha talked so much of—unrelenting.

Although a tiny part of me could feel grateful that Kurosawa was so dedicated. I was sure that I could learn from her in time, but not a mere two days into my school life.

Over time I was sure to see more teasing, too, by the sound of the voices that followed behind me.

They grew in volume when the names were announced for sparring.

Minato. He was haunting me, I could feel it.

Luckily, we would be the last pair to fight as everyone else in the class watched fight after fight. I was too distracted to even focus on the other kids, but I could at least take in the sounds of the fight; how the feet over grass thundered, the green flying up in the air as the wind swam up to tussle the field as well as my hair. I scraped the hair back from my eyes, irritated by its presence.

It was the only downside to short hair—longer locks weren't so wild when they were tied up and at this length the only thing that could help was tons of pins.

I released an oath under my breath.

I was in trouble, I realized when my thoughts trailed over to other subjects, my eyes meeting blue ones. I knew literally nothing about his fighting stance or tricks. The only thing I could assume was that he still only knew the Academy taught katas and wasn't yet under the tutelage of Jiraiya. If it were just that, I could pray he wouldn't kick my ass, but the idea of me sucking at another thing that he won in left me with scowls and my blood boiling.

By the time is was our turn, the whole class began to laugh, patting at his back in encouragement as he made his way to the ring, where the spar would take place. The goal was to get the someone out of it, with Kurosawa not wanting anyone seriously hurt, and the match being taken by the remaining presence.

Which meant as long as I worked quick enough, I stood at least a decent chance at taking the win.

We both took our stance, and I noted abysmally that my form was largely different to his...and that his wasn't the one taught at the Academy.

Blowing out a breath just as Kurosawa called the match to start, I leapt forward, hands touching dirt for the barest of seconds before my legs hit home on his stomach.

He sucked in, the sound a hiss to my ears before I used the momentum to catapult myself over his body. With a quick snap, my left leg sprung out and I growled when he jumped up.

Minato looked surprise before his jaw set, hand coming out to make contact.

I easily dodged, ducking down low before bringing my arms to cradle around his knees. It took only a second for him to break, head reaching to caress a blade of grass. Then, to my utmost shock, he pushed off with his hands, forcefully freeing his legs in a manner that ruthlessly knocked at my jaw.

I fell back, doing my best to adjust myself but he held the advantage, fist coming in to knock into my throat.

I coughed, hands reaching out to grasp at dirt and grass, blinking away the sudden blur to my eyesight.

From what I could make of his expression, he hadn't meant to do that. No doubt he'd put too much power into the punch and not enough accuracy.

When he stumbled back, guilt sweeping over his hooded eyes, I took my chance and sent my foot out.

He dodged my sweeping kick easily and I noticed that even at a young age he was fast. But not as fast as me.

I smirked openly, all teeth bared, finding myself enjoying the good fun before I ducked down, missing the punch he sent toward my jaw, himself leaning too far into it. Using the momentum brought on by his lost balance, I wrenched his legs out from underneath him. He landed on his back with a thick thud.

This time, I didn't waste any time in pinning him down.

I crawled up his body, using my ankles to keep his legs down, bringing my hands to keep his stuck.

We faced each other silently, only our breath sounding off in between us. Even the classmates were silent, watching on with heavy anticipation.

The pain set in then, my throat and jaw aching and my spread lips closing in a wince. I hissed, looking away to spit out the gathering blood then releasing a sharp growl.

"I'll show you what a real punch is like, 'ttebane!" I declared, voice cracking and sounding thin, scratchy. Taking my left hand away, I charged my fist with chakra, easily knocking aside the arm he intended to block with and relentlessly hit him in the gut, laughing carelessly as I did so.

The air whooshing out of him was such a satisfying sound, I took this as my chance to push him out of the circle, using my extra strength to bring him up to stand, although he slouched forward heavily, hand to his stomach and face screwed up in pain.

This had been easier than I had thought it would be...

Minato pushed back, catching me thoroughly off guard as I gave way, the both of falling into a heap. Our eyes met and for the first time I noticed he had a flat out grin on his face, one to match my own. My face flamed just as quickly as I looked away, suddenly lost in what to do. I heard him chuckle before leaning in close to say in my ear, "May the best one win."

Face even hotter than before, I was suddenly charged with the anger and determination the Uzumaki was known for. I pushed him aside with raw strength, hair waving wildly in the air as I shouted, "I'm only a child!"

Confusion showed on his face but he had crossed the line all the way into harassment in my eyes—never mind the fact that I did it first —and I was thirsty for blood.

His blood.

Fist charged with chakra, I wordlessly punched him in the face, watching as his nose broke in odd fascination, hearing the crunch in tune with my motions. I swallowed my hesitation, as I set to charging my entire arms with chakra before I lifted him up and tossed him out of the ring.

"Now," I deadpanned, panting, face still hot, "that is how it's done."

Minato stood up, noticing he had lost with an unexpected smile on his face, holding his hand out,"The best one won, right?"

My head throbbed, and my jaw sung with unheard curses. Wordlessly, I yanked tissue out of the hidden pocket Mito had added in when I requested it the night before. Then, with all the energy I could muster, I tossed it to him with a muttered, "Clean yourself up, you idiot, 'ttebane!"

"Ah, thank you," Minato replied with, touching the tissue to his nose before pulling it back, seemingly surprised there was blood.

"That was a good fight, Kushina-chan. But I would refrain from using chakra next time," Kurosawa said and I cringed knowing that being chastised would only fuel the bullying. I couldn't change it even if I tried as I watched all the kids nod to themselves in agreement. They were all gonna team up on me in a group filled with a consensus in hate.

But that was something to be concerned with for another time.

For now, I found myself gazing at the one who would be called Konoha's Yellow Flash. He was staring at me too, blue eyes wide as if he'd finally come to understand something. I quickly looked away, face red as I did my best to ignore him.

Who knew Minato would be such a weirdo.

All Part of The Healing Process

"You're not joking," I said, the words not a question but as a statement. Mito was not joking when she had spoken, and her eyes had been firm in telling the truth.

I looked up at her now, eyeing up all the signs that led to her giving me full honesty; her brows were downturned, irises locked on with my own, and her breathing was smooth in the rise and fall. She was so absolutely beautiful in that moment, with the way her unkempt hair fell down to her waist, her dark eyes much like the night I so often prayed to for news like this.

Her expression blurred.

I blinked only once but it was enough for the wetness to fall down my cheeks as the thick tears were joined by more. The sob I released unwittingly was soft in the darkness and, when I threw myself into her arms, it was muffled against her clothes and body heat.

One by one, they left me in a cry that could not be silenced so easily.

"Oh, my sweet lily," Mito started, her voice sending chills down my back with the eerie nickname I had never told her of.

It sent the memories of my mother's voice crashing into my head and my voice grew to be impassioned as the words were formed out of my joy, "They're alive! They're alive! They're alive."

It was a savory mantra I kept dearly in my chest, resounding as I shook in the relief that swept through me.

"Kushina," Mito started again, and I slowly brought my wet face out from hiding to face her, even as I could not be so quiet, "not all of it is good. There were some...casualties. Your parents are fine, and so are the children, but...you're mother told me to tell you about Mika as quickly as possible."

That shut me up.

I looked down to my toes, suddenly nervous about the possibilities, "W-What do you mean?"

Please.

"She...I was told she did not make it out of the invasion."

I fell to my knees, suddenly feeling weak. Words were gone from mind, absolutely obliterated.

"Kushina," Mito whispered in my ear after kneeling besides me, looking grim in the red lighting of the room. "Let's go to the kitchen, okay? We'll have some tea and I can make us a quick snack if you like."

"Not right now," I whispered without thinking, confused on how to feel.

Mika was dead, but my mother and father was still alive.

She helped me to stand before leading me to my bedroom, and as I walked the tears dried on my skin.

When I lay thinking to myself deep into the night, it remained that way.

All Part of the Healing Process

"Oi, Tomato!" Taichi, the head of the Bully Kushina Committee—not that it actually has a name to it—hollered, "Be prepared for after class!"

As if you'll be able to catch me in time, I snickered to myself before rubbing at the bandage over my chin. Wincing, I refused to acknowledge the eyes that seemed glued to my back.

"Yeah, Tomato," added Kumai in a thankful distraction, the right hand lackey of Taichi. I hadn't intentionally learned their names, it just kind of stuck when it's all I could hear during break times. They were both idiots but they were both popular idiots.

I resisted sighing when I went back to my quiet studying. There wasn't much else to do besides that in this place when you had no friends. Not that I didn't already have friends.

Kenma and Ichigo were enough for me.

I paused, expression falling.

"Is something wrong?" Minato asked and whipped around to look at him, glaring fiercely even if I knew he didn't deserve it. I wiped at my face, checking for the tears. He was doing that weird thing again when he asked me things as opposed to ignoring me like I did to him, "You know, things won't always be this bad. They just need some time warming up."

I don't care about them, I thought to myself but kept wrapped tightly in my head.

"Should I light them on fire and see if that warms them up?" I inquired, voice so flat you'd never be the wiser that I was kidding. Sort of.

Minato laughed. He actually laughed, "I wouldn't go as far as to do that."

"Hmph," I replied with, promptly going back to looking at my books and attempting to understand them.

It felt like he wanted to say something, what with the way he was gazing at me.

Please don't say anything. Please.

When he didn't, I couldn't help but wonder why. With pursed lips, I brushed my hair back behind my ears, giving me access at looking at him from the corner of my eye.

He looked transfixed.

Why did he look that way? I couldn't even begin to fathom what could do this to him. He was acting so strange!

Feeling self-conscious, I quickly shifted my hair back, just to have something in place so I didn't have to look at his stupid girly face. The staring didn't stop, in fact, I only felt it that much more. Fed up, I slammed my pencil onto the desk and turned to him, brows raised, "Yes?'

"Huh? Oh! I, uh, it's nothing."

Really? That's all he had to say? Suddenly, I felt I was dealing with a wimp.

Well, at least he had stopped staring.

All Part of the Healing Process

Later that day, as I suffered quietly with boredom and grief, Ruta decided to switch things up, bless his soul, but also damn it because he wanted us to get in partners.

At first, I felt as if Minato would force me to be his, and I would just make do being held hostage. That wasn't the case. At all. I don't know why I would think this—I was too prideful to think anything else I supposed.

Fortunately, a shy girl made her way up to him and asked in a sugar sweet voice, "Would you be alright with me being your partner?"

I had a feeling he glanced at me but I was too mortified that I had lost my Plan A. There was no Plan B, and as much as I liked to think otherwise, Minato was truly the only one who might have put up with my bullshit for something like this.

Soon, the class split up one by one, leaving me to my sit by myself and I stubbornly wrote stupid notes in my book as I refused to look up and see their stares.

Laughter echoed in the classroom when Ruta called out to see who lacked a partner, and I was sure they all mercilessly pointed to me. I felt my shoulders draw in, my short hair falling to shroud around my face. I blinked as the page blurred up in front of me, horror dawning as my eyelashes fluttered frantically to clear myself of them.

I could not be seen being weak like this.

I hate this, I hate them, I thought darkly, wishing I was home in my mother's arms, wishing I could hear Kenma's laughter, and feel Ichigo's hand in my own again. I wanted to hear my father's voice call out to me, be comforted by his sure words. My mouth was dry, I realized, with a thirst for the lemon tea Mika would make on particularly bad days.

How could I think I wanted to be Hokage when all I ached for was to leave the damn place?

I will never be strong enough, I realized, the thought biting into my chest deeply.

The laughter grew and so did the pain in my head.

I stood up, pencil clattering to the floor before I darted for the window, shoving a boy to the floor before I flung myself outside, landing on my knees roughly. I wasted no time in standing up, running as fast as I could manage, heart pounding against my ribs.

It was getting hard to be breathe.

"Kushina-san!"

"Leave me alone," I shouted back, although I had no clue if it carried with the wind or not.

"Let's be partners! Let's be partners!" The voice sounded right behind me, and it was familiar. Minato.

Unconsciously, I slowed and regretted it as soon as he tackled me down to the floor, my chin hitting the ground as it sent waves of pain through my nerves. My teeth clacked together harshly, my grunt resounding in a hum. We both panted.

"Kushina-san, are you alright?" Minato asked, sliding off of my back before turning my stiff form over.

It hurt to speak, but I forced it through in a soft rasp, "Why?"

The tears came unbidden. I looked away, eye narrowing on a lone lily far away.

"Why what?"

"Why do you keep bothering me," I croaked out with, "and why don't you hate me already?"

"I don't know," he whispered, "I don't think you're someone that should be hated."

"Classmates," I pointed out sourly, bringing a hand up to massage at my jaw.

"They don't know you."

I scoffed, "and you do?"

At that he went quiet. Then, so softly I barely even caught it, he said, "We share a dream, that's enough."

With nothing more to say, I sighed bitterly through my nose before sitting and turning to him with a scowl, "Let's head back, partner."

All Part of the Healing Process

She's so dramatic, Minato couldn't help but think, wondering why it looked so hard for her to accept help, or even for her to socialize.

He's heard things about her, of course. It was nearly impossible to escape—she was literally the talk of the town.

Everyone wondered why she was the only Uzumaki allowed to stay when all the others had been sent back as soon as the legislation appeared. He wasn't too clear on the details, but Uzushio had apparently been made into a new type of village where it had connections to all of the hidden villages. He had no idea what that meant, but there had been supposed bloodshed, and it supposedly was not with happy connections that the island was being controlled with.

He was too hesitant to ask her anything else, already too glad that she hadn't outright rejected him out in the field, otherwise he doubted Yuno would be so kind as to take him back after he had pushed her away so carelessly.

As he guessed, his classmates regarded him with new eyes, looking at the way Kushina's hand clutched at his jacket so tightly—that little detail probably surprised him much more than them. She didn't look the type to be clingy.

"Class!" Ruta called the class to attention and he listened curiously, "As everyone looks to be partnered up, we'll now begin this little experiment." He looked annoyed, pointedly narrowing his eyes at Minato and Kushina. It was such a strange feeling to be the bad kid for once.

He had to hide the small grin that wanted to rise up, and noted with some humor that Kushina bore a scowl so fierce he was surprised her face didn't stick like that. Seemed she was used to being considered in such a way.

"I will be matching up two pair of partners and forming 17 groups," Ruta continued, "Once in your groups, you guys will choose which pair of partners will be the traitors and the other group will be the loyalists. I will then issue the reason for their treachery to that group only. Today is for planning on how you will play out the traitor's actions and the loyalist's proper response and tomorrow is when you will act it out in front of the rest of the class. Now, during your performance, you cannot say the reason, you can hope the audience picks it up by context clues. At the end of the skit, the rest of the class will guess what the reason was."

Minato couldn't help but be caught off guard—it wasn't very often that they did games like this. When indoors they usually focused on math, history, and memorizing the shinobi rules, the outdoors being entirely unrelated to anything but the physicality.

However, Minato was not totally surprised.

It was this type of method that would steer most away from comprising missions, he assumed.

"Taichi-kun and Kumai-kun, you two are with Sayuri-chan and Miyu-chan..." Ruta started, looking down at his bored while looking to the kids. It was with trepidation when the teacher called out her name next to his, "Kushina-chan and Minato-kun, you two are with Shigeru-kun and Yuno-chan."

He turned to smile at the girl he had insulted, hoping to apologize but was surprised to see her turning her nose up to him. Shigeru was glaring.

"Still happy you chased after me?" Kushina asked, standing beside him, exuding a warmth that used to surprise him. Her hand went to touch his, and when she realized it, her eyes narrowed, a soft oath leaving through her lips.

Perhaps her unusual heat was an Uzumaki trait?

Her skin was particularly sun-kissed, somehow maintaining soft-looking skin with a shade that rivaled most in his class. He had a feeling that she could grow to be much darker, if given the time. Perhaps her skin sucked in the sun's heat just for this type of effect.

By the looks of it, she had been spending too much time indoors, much lighter than the first day he had met her.

"We'll be the loyalist," Minato spoke up as soon as the four of them had gathered in a secluded corner of the brightly lit classroom. "That is, if everyone is okay with that."

"More like a traitor," Yuno bit out bitterly, eyes still sharp on the blonde's face.

"I'm okay with being a traitor," Kushina started, then the click of her teeth could be heard when she clamped her mouth shut, her eyes filling with regret. Surely she knew how it could be used against her, and he couldn't help but pity her for it.

She was so…awkward, Minato realized.

If he could make a guess, it would be that she had spent far too long used to the people close by while not ever openly attempting to make friends with strangers.

He bit onto his lip in hopes of taming the smile that wanted to be released. Minato had a gut feeling that he was right—it would explain her, after all.

"We'll be the traitors then," Minato heard himself say, matching it with a pleasant spread of his lips.

"Wait," Kushina murmured, tilting her nose up cutely, "we must be the loyalist, I have changed my mind."

Her form made it that much more clear about the bandaged covering most of her lower face and the guilt could not be tamed. It was him who had done that to her—and he had recovered with little to no damage done. Even the iryo-nin he visited had explained the punches and kicks landed had been so neatly controlled that only the skin had been damaged, with mild bruising to his inner organs.

Nothing but his nose had bled, and even that had been an easy fix.

He wondered why she didn't go to the hospital if it looked so bad, but knowing her it was probably because she liked to see him suffer.

He hated how easily she seemed to manipulate him.

"Stop changing your mind," Yuno snapped.

"Yeah, do you wanna be yourself or do you want to play pretend as a someone loyal?" Shigeru directed this to her, and Minato blinked at the odd vehemence. His sneer did not help matters any.

Kushina growled in the way she did that reminded him how utterly wild she was, "I am loyal."

Her voice sent shivers down his spine, ringing of truth and the desperation for it to be known.

"Yuno-chan, Shigeru-kun," Minato started, attempting to break up the bad vibes, "it might be better if we flipped a coin."

"I call heads," Kushina declared, hands coming to grasp at his shoulder, shaking him in her barely hidden excitement.

Smiling vaguely, Minato reached into his pocket to pull out one of his ryo, "That leaves tails for you."

Quickly, Minato flicked it straight up into the air.

Ruta-sensei came around then, a small grin on his face, "So who is play the traitors?"

The glimmering coin landed in the blonde's palm before he held it up to Ruta cheekily.

"I win!" Kushina cheered, jumping up into the air, giggling.

"What's the traitor's reason?" Minato calmly asked, noticing the way Kushina held onto him so tightly. She barely even seemed to notice he was there, violet orbs staring up into the dark eyes of their shared teacher.

"The traitor has been paid off to take an important scroll to an enemy, how will the loyalist hand the situation?"

"Beat the crap out of them," Kushina offered in that feral way of hers, eyes on Shigeru in particular.

"We would have to either bring them back to secure the information they have of Konoha, or, depending on our mission prerogative and details, we may need to take them out after grabbing hold of the scroll they have," Minato explained, half tempted to pet the redhead.

"Well said, Minato-kun. Fitting for the top student of this year."

He didn't mean to beam at the praise, but Kushina quickly used her hold on him for evil, ruthlessly punching his arm.

"Let's try to have fun," Minato attempted to say diplomatically before rubbing at his throbbing skin.

"Don't order me around," she said quietly, her voice strict and unrelenting.

"But—"

"Why on Earth should this be fun?" she asked, looking thoroughly pissed off, violet eyes looking more like a deep, deep blue, "Do you even know how serious it is to be traitor? Do you know what it feels like to be betrayed?"

Minato was quiet for a moment before nodding, feeling chastised for the first time in a long while.

She was right in the way that he had no idea what it meant for either side—hadn't even thought that traitors deserved a side. He had never been betrayed either, or at least he didn't think he had been. For the most part, his life had been free of most of the struggles that kids faced.

His mother died before he could remember, after all, and his father more than made up for the absence.

"We should write up some dialogue to go off of, maybe choreograph a fight scene," Minato murmured, looking to Kushina first, but then making eye contact with Yuno and Shigeru.

"Alright, seems like a plan," Kushina said, obviously pushing back the earlier strife, forcing a smile.

"Now, we should decide who will speak first," Minato suggested as he pulled out his notebook.

He flushed when it opened to the page of notes he never wanted them to be scene and almost immediately, his face began to burn with heat.

Kushina sucked in a breath, and he winced when she quickly snatched the book away from safety before ripping the piece of paper out before handing the notebook back. He looked at the wadded paper in her hand almost mournfully before he started to right on a fresh page.

He would mourn for it later.

"What did she just tear out?" Yuno asked curiously.

"Just math," she answered lamely.

All Part of the Healing Process

The next day was not going to be fun. I wanted nothing more than to skip school entirely, avoiding everything and everyone, but Mito was a stickler for perfect attendance.

"Good morning class," Ruta said but I couldn't honestly care, groaning when the rest of the class greeted him back. "We'll be reviewing the proper protocols for in the case that you have to deal with traitors. No matter the reason, the steps taken will be the same. However, depending on the severity of their actions, the punishment will differ..." Ruta-sensei droned on to explain everything I was already aware of.

If there was a traitor, you didn't spare any chit-chat as you took them down.

The only reason Ruta-sensei brought up the traitors having a cause to do what they'd done was to train us to aptly take a look at the shinobi and decide that no reason was good enough to betray the village. It helped that we were brainwashed to think that way, and even myself saw that if life was decent, there wasn't a good enough reason in the world to betray the people you loved.

"Alright," Ruta spoke with a renewed excitement, breaking into my thoughts like an annoying pest, "You guys will be performing now, but first we'll be moving to the outside for more room."

The herd of us followed him out to an empty training field. It wasn't the one we usually used for taijutsu, probably because the other one was already in use. This one was tinier and hadn't been as well maintained, obvious weeds growing closer to the fences. I frowned knowing that with overgrown grass, it could result in a lot of tripping and general clumsiness.

Eh, whatever. I was already injured as it was.

"Who wants to go first?' Ruta asked and before I could eagerly jump up, Minato grabbed onto my arms, dragging me close into his side. I looked up at him in surprise to see the barest hint of a blush on his cheeks. He looked embarrassed.

"I don't think the others are ready to go on," Minato explained.

"How thoughtful of you," I murmured back, laying the sarcasm on thick.

I just wanted to get this over with already.

"Right then, Izumi's group goes first."

From then on, it was all pretty boring as we watched bad acting and the somewhat awkward take down of the traitors. Then, we all guessed the stupid reason. The guessing was the fun part, mostly because this class contained idiots and, no, I'm not talking about myself. Anyway, the idiots always said the rashest things, which made everyone laugh.

I liked the sound of loud laughter. It reminded me of home.

As soon as it was our turn, being the last ones to go, the entire class began to go off with their chuckles and snorts.

"Good luck up there, Tomato!" One person called.

"Yeah, don't break a leg!"

"It's 'break a leg', you idiot!" I yelled back, face red with the flush that was always brought on when I got angry.

"Let's just get started," Minato interjected and I turned my glare towards him before I relented hesitantly.

"Fine."

The four of us got into position, the pairs in our respective groups facing each other in a moronic standoff. Yuno cleared her throat before saying in stiff voice, "You can't stop us!"

"We can," I replied with in a half-hearted monotone voice, "And we will." Minato nudged me with his foot and I sighed out, "We will bring you back no matter what."

"Before that, you'll have to bring us down fighting," Shigeru said in a gentle, wimpy voice. He was trying to sound determined, wasn't he? I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled forth just as Minato kicked me even harder.

"That's right!" Yuno suddenly burst out with, coming to clutch onto Minato's arm, looking as if she were play fighting with it. That was not in the script. I found myself glaring passionately at the contact. Stupid Minato. If anything, it would be his fault that Naruto wouldn't be born. Tch, cheating husband.

"Fighting back is useless," I ground out in a growl. "Hand over the scroll or you'll be killed here."

"No!" Yuno cried, "They'll kill us if we go back." Her fingers tightened on him, jerking it around like a stick as Minato looked on with bright cheeks and noticeable confusion.

"God, you're so flaky!" I shouted, trying not to think about why Minato hadn't shoved her off already. "You can't just ditch us!"

"How are we ditching?" Yuno stupidly said and suddenly I felt as if I had really caught Minato cheating. Yuno, this stupid, stupid mistress. Just because he's the Hokage doesn't mean he's all that great.

With a venomous voice, I murmured, "Leaving your duties as shinobi! Leaving your family! Leaving your village!"

"As if we care about that when our loyalties go to the other village," Yuno said, flustered as she attempted to get back on script. The blonde boy looked pretty troubled. Maybe it was the shock at having been caught by the wife.

"Not more talk," Minato started, trying to seem confident. I laughed and then grinned a feral grin just as my head began to feel light.

"Prepare to die!" I roared, launching myself at her as I took her to the ground. She sputtered, eyes blinking rapidly with pretty doe-like eyes. I paused before I shifted her face to smash it into the ground. Yuno struggled, slapping at my cheeks before clawing at my face and hair. I relented just a bit, even as I saw only red. "Mine!" I shouted, although I had no clue what I was talking about.

She pushed me away with strength I had no idea she could possibly have. Then she gave a rough shriek, leaping at me with her fingers outstretched. Her nails reached my scalp, digging in deep. My hiss seemed to echo in the suddenly quiet field as I struggled to—

Red.

That's all I could see.

My chest felt tight, hot, and way too heavy as I gave up on trying to think.

"Bring her back!" I screamed, shoving her, only to send my fist to her chin, then using my sweeping foot to bring the girl to the floor. She landed noisily, letting out a groan.

"Stop!"

I couldn't even recognize the voice, lost in the way I raked my nails across her arms and then—

"Kushina!" Minato called behind me, arms reaching to wrap around my shoulder blades before he pulled me off of her.

I went lax in his warmth and it was then that I felt the wetness on my cheeks. I felt sore and tired. There was nothing else but that except…

"She's really dead," I whispered, unable to think or say anything else. It was just a statement, nothing more.

"Kushina-san," Minato started, "are you alright? Can you hear me?"

"Yeah," I answered softly, wondering why he was looking at me, wondering why he was helping me to my feet.

"We need to get you cleaned up," he murmured, musing with my hair and I looked down to my toes, suddenly feeling lost. "Can you walk?"

I nodded even as I felt scared to do so.

I didn't want to be alone.

By accident, I looked to the side and in glimpse I saw the bloodied mess of Yuno. My eyes widened and I froze. Unconsciously, my hand reached out, holding onto Minato when a wave of exhaustion and horror swept through.

"Monster!" One of the girls shrieked. "Look what you've done, freak!"

I winced but could not look away as Yuno twitched, attempting to get up.

I can't take that back.

"I'm sorry," I cried out, nearly slipping to my knees. Minato's hold on me strengthened. "I'm sorry! I'll do anything! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! I'm sorry!"

"I suppose you are," Ruta said, eyes looking severe, "But, Kushina-chan, I strongly suggest you leave your personal issues at the front door."

"Yes…," I murmured out, shaking where I stood with tears that refused to slip through.

I hate myself.

All Part of the Healing Process

"I can't fix this, can I?" I asked Mito, rolling up blank scrolls after our practice together. "I mean, I'll always be a monster now, won't I?"

"A future Hokage can't be a monster," Mito answered after some time of thought.

"But I nearly killed her!"

"Then you have a better grasp of your duties than most."

I paused, my fingers poised to roll up another scroll. My jaw went slack, as I nearly halted.

Of course.

Killing was unescapable. Why had I thought anything else? Yet it still did not make the situation right. That excuse was so flimsy.

I clenched my hands into fists, creasing the paper before I murmured, "She could have been my friend. I should have never hurt someone that wasn't my enemy."

"True," Mito murmured, sliding her way over to me before letting her fingers sweep at my hair before they rested on my bandaged cheeks, "but that sort of knowledge comes from mistakes like these. You will learn, and I know you will be someone admirable. You are someone who cares, and someone that could never take pleasure in taking life from another. For that, I know you will make a great Hokage."

"Grandma," I murmured, brows creasing as I let my fingers come up to touch hers, "I just want to fix this feeling. It's awful."

"Oh, my sweet lily," she said softly by my ear before pressing her lips to my forehead, "that feeling never truly goes away once it's there. It can't be fixed as it exists for a reason. It's a reminder; a promise."

"For what?"

"You will not betray a friend again."

A promise…

I looked into her eyes, "Then, how can I fix my reputation at least?"

She gave a soft hum, patting at my hair, "I don't know."

I blew out a sigh, shoulders slumping.

Mito chuckled, "Perhaps we can discuss it over some snacks and tea."

I allowed a tiny smile at that before meeting her gaze once more, "Okay."

"Ah, but before that," Mito started, looking as if an idea has struck her, "you're lonely aren't you?"

I blinked, absolutely unsure on how to react.

"I just realized during all the time you've spent here, you haven't once met my grandchildren."

I wanted to keep it that way, I thought sourly, touching at the cheek I refused to have healed.

"We should change that," Mito went on, "I think you'll like them both very much."

"Later," I mumbled, feigning hunger with a rub at my stomach, "for now let's go eat."

"Of course!"

All Part of the Healing Process

"Oi! Tomato!" Taichi called just as school ended but I wasted no time on him. I quickly exited the classroom and didn't even suspect that I was being followed. Most were hesitant to even look my way these days. I simply made my way out of the school and walked my usual way to the Senju clan home.

Thinking back on it now, I probably should have been aware that something like this would have happened if I wasn't careful.

Just as I was nearing my destination, Taichi and some dude with his hitai ate approached me. With narrowed eyes, I assessed them, uncertain about anything that would happen but I knew one thing for certain.

I would be fighting them. Ugh, I didn't want to.

My face still hurt and I still refused to go to the hospital.

"We told you to be prepared yesterday," Taichi growled out, "But you ignored us and didn't stay after school. So today we've decided to find you instead."

"I see you've brought company," I pointed out.

"He's my older brother, Taka. He's already a genin," Taichi stressed the last word, as if it meant anything to me. But it was so like him, to get someone big and bad to take care of his messes. He wouldn't ever make a good shinobi.

"Well, shall we play?" I inquired darkly. It would be better to just beat the hell out of them and get them to leave me alone once and for all. I cracked my knuckles for fair warning.

"You're just a weak little girl, aren't you?" Taka had said and I glared at him, knowing I could take him. He was too slim for his size, after all.

"Oh, then why would you hurt, poor 'ole me?" I asked sweetly as he was taken by surprise.

"Whatever, you're still in the Academy, I made genin already," Taka bragged as he shot forward. I looked around, realizing we were in the sight of the Senju clan house. If anyone came out, Mito would be told that I'd been fighting again—which wouldn't necessarily be bad but she was probably tired of cleaning blood out of clothes. With my eyes searching for a way to lead him away from the place I saw the only way to go was the trees.

I didn't walk on trees often, but I had done it before when I had needed to run away from a pursuing Kenma, and during hide and seek. Perfect. As swiftly as possible, I ran up the side of the closest sakura tree and hopped onto the branch. Taka was persistent in following me as I made my way across the expansive area of trees.

The clap of my feet against the bark echoed in my ears just as the sound of fluttering petals in the wind did, and I spun just in time to leap onto one of the thicker branches in view. I lingered only for a moment before swinging myself to the next one, low enough to reach before I found myself flipping in the air.

I stumbled on the branch when I landed and it dipped dangerously. I wasted no time before I hopped to the next tree, spitting out petals that stuck to my mouth.

I didn't stop until a shuriken appeared just above my head, making an obvious thunk against the bark.

So, he was going to fight dirty. Well, two could play at that.

I quickly pulled out the shuriken, and tossed it back with the accuracy he lacked. Taka disappeared in a flash of smoke, leaving behind a block of wood. Tch, just a replacement jutsu. Quickly, I set my eyes on looking for Taka and found him hiding behind a tree. Just for the sake of showing off, I flipped my body down onto the forest floor, landing with all the grace I had been training for.

"Come out, Taka! Let's settle this face to face," I called and kept a distinctive eye on his hiding spot. He was casting a jutsu by the looks of his hand movements and for this time, as a clone appeared before me, I let myself caught, as the clone placed one hand on my arm and the other on my throat. It didn't take long to draw him out like that as the clone dispersed and Taka grabbed a handful of my hair, pulling in the places I really rather he didn't.

They the wounds had just scabbed over too…

I winced, as he dug in deeply. Having such short hair wasn't looking to be such a good idea anymore when it was so close to the scalp.

"What ugly hair!" Taka tried to insult me and I had to roll my eyes. He was trying so hard that even I had to give him just a little ecredit. But I wanted to get this over and done with. So without further ado, I swiftly ripped my hair away, leaving a scattering of red strains in the air. Before they even began to float away, I was up in the air, having bounced off his chest. He easily fell to the ground and before long, I had landed on his chest.

The air whooshed out of him but I wasn't finished. I climbed on top of him as I charged my fist with chakra. When my fist came down on his face, it made a satisfying crack. "What's that about my hair being ugly!? As if your own is much better! I admit that I look like a tomato but if you ask me, I'll make you look like a squashed tomato!" I yelled at him as I continued to hit him in the face. "You will never insult my treasure again; you hear? How does it feel to be beaten by a little girl, huh?"

I paused only for a second to hear his plea.

Then, with bated breath, I murmured close enough that I couldn't be overheard, "I am better than you."

With one last punch to his nose, I stood, flicking the wet blood off my hand before I looked up to see a horrified Taichi. With a whimper, he took off in the other direction, screaming at the top of his lungs, "It's the bloody habanero!

Unfazed, I stood up, and glanced up when I felt eyes watching me. With a scowl, I met the blue orbs of Minato. "Was that entertaining to you?" I demanded to know.

"Wha—? No! I mea—." He spluttered and I just shook my head.

"Whatever, I need to clean up," I muttered before I sprinted away from the scene, not even caring that I had ruined Taka's face. Well, I have actually been doing him a favor. He wasn't that good-looking to begin with.

"Wait!" Minato called and I jumped, surprised that he'd even followed me. Still, I waited impatiently as he caught up with me.

"What?" The tone came out much harsher than I implied and I immediately wanted to apologize, but I kept my mouth shut. It would be best that he didn't come too close.

Goodbye, Future.

"N—." My words fell away as Minato unexpectedly grabbed onto my arm. My eyes widened, "Wh-what are you doing!?"

"Don't misunderstand me. I wanted to step in but I knew you could handle it. So let me apologize by treating you to ramen."

"F-Fine, but I want to c-clean up," I stammered out, face red as I focused on the fact that Minato was actually touching me, "Let's eat ramen tomorrow." The bastard.

Minato frowned but then smiled his gentle, bright smile, "Deal."

With that, I shoved him away and stepped back, "Flaky, cheating hus—," I cut myself off as I did my best to calm down, "Just don't forget, 'ttebane!" With my face flaming and my head feeling light, I took off in the direction of the Senju clan house.

"I won't!" He called to me and I really begged that he would.

All Part of the Healing Process

When I got home, doing my best to hide my bloodied clothes, I dodged around the maids and the clan members, hoping I wouldn't be seen. I'd even almost made it to the bathroom successfully but then footsteps round the corner and I was suddenly knocked to the floor by huge breasts. Shit.

"Ah, Kushina-chan? What are you doing covered in so much blood?"

"Tsu-Tsunade-san," I greeted with a forced smile, "this blood is nothing. Just from a stupid boy."

The iryo-nin lifted a brow, "I do hope he's alive."

I frowned, "I think his brother went to get help..."

Tsunade snorted, "Why don't you explain in more detail while we get you cleaned up."

I hesitated, nibbling on my lower lip with lowered lashes. I didn't understand her. I didn't know how to act around the woman I knew the future of.

She looked so…happy.

"Oh, come on, we met the first day you arrived here, didn't we? Now, we're practically family thanks to Grandmother."

But we're not, I held back on saying.

"Alright," I murmured, wondering if it was actually alright.

With a smile, she pushed at my shoulders, leading me to where I recognized as the baths. Pushing the door open, she gestured to me and I sighed, giving up as I turned around.

"Ne, Tsunade-san," I started as soon as I took off my clothes, the hot water running in the tub as she got it started, but as I turned to see her undressing herself I totally froze, face pale. Did she intend to take a bath with me? Apparently yes, as her last article of clothing fell into the hamper.

"What is it, Kushina-chan?" Tsunade asked and I quickly jumped into the bath, ducking underneath the water as it splashed around me. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly. It was one thing to get naked in front of someone, but it was another thing entirely to see someone else naked. My face was burning with the added heat of the tub.

When I sat up for air, pushing aside my soaked bangs, I was glad to see that Tsunade had entered the tub too. The water rose up around her but it did help to cover her up. Soon I would get over this blush of mine, soon.

"Were you going to ask me something?" Tsunade inquired once more, hand wading in the water.

"We haven't spoken since the day we first met. I'm just wondering why…"

"Why what?"

"Why you're here today. Did Mito-san ask you to come here?"

"She did," Tsunade said, almost dismissively, "but more importantly, why not call her as usual? Grandma."

"Grandma," I echoed, making circles in the water almost absentmindedly, "I didn't want to upset you."

"Hmm," Tsunade reached a hand out, before flicking the dripping water at my face. I blinked. "Grandmother worries you aren't fitting in well here. She worries you will want to go home when we need you."

I do, I thought to myself, feeling that oh-so familiar ache in my chest.

"Duty before desire," I whispered. Then, in a louder voice, "Did she just ask you?"

"You'll be meeting Nawaki today too, if you've heard about him. He's my little brother with a very similar dream. Guess you have some competition there."

I flushed, attempting not to worry.

Nawaki is dead.

Not yet, I hissed back.

"Don't look so gloomy," The busty blonde grinned, "let me wash your back!" With that, Tsunade came forward and grabbed onto my arms, bringing me closer before she snaked her fingers out to tickle my side.

I couldn't help the sudden hysteric laughter that bubbled up as I fought to breathe.

"Ts—."

"Resistance is futile, Kushina-chan!" Tsunade laughed mischievously as I splashed around in the tub.

"St—."

"Had enough?" Tsunade asked and I frantically nodded, "Then stop being so formal, you twerp. Call me big sis."

"Big sis…?"

"Yup! But I still do want to wash your back later. Sisterly bonding, ne?"

"I guess," I mumbled softly, cheeks rising in heat. I dipped my face into the steaming and almost welcomed the sting that came to my still healing cuts.

"You should let me heal those. I don't know if you've heard but I'm actually very good with my hands."

I blinked but stubbornly shook my head, "If it scars, I don't want to forget where they've come from."

"That's a nice notion, Ku-chan," Tsunade chuckled, "Ah, isn't that a nice nickname?"

"Y-Yeah," I agreed, nodding emphatically even as I just wanted to curl up and hide.

"Now let's get out and meet my little brother. Maybe you two will even hit off so well that you'll be calling me sister-in-law!"

I doubt it.

Holding back a sigh, I reached for the shampoo and then very nearly jumped out of my skin at hearing the soft gasp coming from the corner.

"Sorry! I didn't think anyone would be in here!"

I looked up then promptly duck deep into the water, peering over the edge of the tub with wide eyes.

Nawaki Senju.

Since when did he get so good looking?

I flushed at the thought then looked over to see Tsunade laughing her head off.

"Well, what's your first impression of him? Hopeless, or what?"

Nawaki's face turned red, flustered, "I said I was sorry already!"

"Yeah well, you still haven't left," Tsunade pointed out.

He looked like he was going to say something, mouth opening and closing like the gaping mouth of a fish fresh out of water. Then, clenching his fist as his brown hair swayed in his actions, he spun around to exit of the room, obviously fuming.

"He's so easy to tease," his older sister commented, snickering to herself before jabbing a finger in the direction he had gone as she looked to me, "So? What did you think of him?"

I didn't know what to say that didn't involve the fact that I knew he would be dying at a young age, but then, very softly that only the echo managed to carry it, I said, "He looks nice."

Which only made her laugh all the much more.

All Part of the Healing Process

"All right, settle down, class," Ruta addressed us as he stood at the front of the class, "Today we'll be discussing chakra control. Most of you have never been able to mold chakra at all, and that will be remedied, hopefully, today."

Silently, I was mourning the good mood I had been in. Soon, I would be just bored. Plain bored. It almost made me resent Mito's decision to forgo an aptitude test just so I'd stay within my age group. Most of what Ruta was teaching at this point felt almost as if he was beating a broken drum. I'd already learned all this stuff in what felt like ages ago.

I huffed out a sigh and turned to my notebook for solace, opening it up with the intention to practice my drawing skills. However, being unexpectedly intrusive, Minato slid closer to me, gently grabbing the notebook from hands as he readied his pen.

'I didn't forget,' he wrote.

Damn it.

Agitated, I found myself wanting to burn the notebook but diplomatically, I replied to him with a simple, 'I didn't forget either, stupid.'. The only thing, however, was that it was in English, the language that still felt foreign and hard to grasp. My handwriting was a sure hell of grosser with it, like a jumbled mess.

I grinned, just thinking of the puzzled face Minato would have. But I couldn't look. I needed to stop looking and thinking about him. That was my problem, indeed. I mean, the future wasn't exactly foreboding at this current moment in time. I didn't need to waste my precious time on such silly stuff. I sorely wish I hadn't ever agreed to meet up with that idiot blonde for ramen. It didn't even matter that I had yet to eat the ramen in Konoha.

I had a feeling it couldn't beat Uzushio's.

For some very strange reason, ramen had stood as a frequent craving of all Uzumaki and I suppose that gene skipped out on me. I liked the stuff but I was more of a girl who liked high calorie sweets much more than anything else. It helped that I was active enough to keep up such a diet.

Ah, I missed Mika's cooking... At that thought, it sent an ache in my heart and that only led to thoughts of her and the dream I had lot. I had been trying not to feel it, the feeling of grief. So far I had done everything to keep my mind busy and away from thoughts of home but that hadn't exactly worked out so well the first time. Yuno could attest to that. I bit my lip.

This class couldn't end sooner.

Still, it was good to get a time to practice my seals with everyone too preoccupied to look at me.

All Part of the Healing Process

Class was ending, I could feel it.

With tense shoulders, I wanted to do everything to run away and hide. The good mood was gone, wiped out by the prospect that I just didn't know how to function with Minato around, which was highly embarrassing. I considered myself a rather social person. This sudden lack of friends wasn't exactly easy to deal with, as much as I lied to myself.

Well, these days, there wasn't much to pick form—more like, no one wanted to pick me.

I didn't want Minato or Nawaki though. They had too much meaning in the future.

I just wanted my twins back.

I could do nothing as class came to a close and I gazed at him reproachfully, wishing to be anywhere but there.

"Does what you wrote mean that you didn't forget?" Minato asked, adorably—cough—stupidly confused. It was almost like a betrayal that my mind slipped up and it was entirely his fault.

"I wonder," I muttered and he shifted on his feet awkwardly. He didn't know what to do. Man, he was so flaky. Hopping up, I grabbed onto his arm, "Come on, let's go."

"A-Alright," Minato looked largely conflicted but all that mattered was just sitting down, eating a bowl of ramen, and forgetting that this day ever existed.

My hold on him felt oddly familiar and warm, much like a hug, and I couldn't fathom why.

Grumbling to myself for the reasons, we headed to the busiest part of Konoha, the market and entertainment section. We approached the little ramen stall easily enough as we each took a seat on one of the stools. The man attending the stall even seemed to be expecting us, as he gave a welcoming smile and even patted Minato on the head, before handing him a bowl of ramen. Looks like he was a regular.

"So what can I get for one of my most loyal customers and his pretty friend."

"I'm not his friend," I deadpanned, "We've been forced together due to circumstances beyond my control." And it was true. Stupid special chakra and being reincarnated.

The man blinked before he gave a gutsy laugh, "This one's a keeper! Is she always this serious?"

I had to think about that. Had I honestly been my usual happy-go-lucky self in Konoha? That would be a sincere no. The closest I'd ever gotten to acting like I had in Uzushio had been when I was around Mito. She reminded me so much of my mother that it had made me relax almost instantly. It was almost like being back home when I was around. But I made a point of not replacing Satsuki with her. Mito was more like a grandmother than anything. I'd never had a grandmother in this life.

But was I always serious? The answer was in a between state. I had the tendency to be gloomy with my thoughts but my actions expressed an excitable Uzumaki kunoichi. I blinked, realizing just how much I had actually changed since coming here.

"I'm still adjusting to life in Konoha," I mumbled as the discussion had lulled to a stop.

"Oh? Where are you from?"

"Uzushio!" I declared, the thought of my island making my heart sore. One way to get me happy, I suppose, was to bring up my home. But then again, there was that stab of grief.

"Wasn't there just an attack there?" the man asked, thoughtful.

"Yeah," I simply said as I dodged giving even more information about it, "An order of miso ramen, please!"

"The same for me," Minato requested, his cheeks slightly flushed and her eyes avidly watching in anticipation as the stall owner set to work. As the aromas of the savory ramen wafted up, it was almost like being in Uzushio again. I breathed in, feeling my stomach growl. It smelled rather similar to Uzushio styled ramen, which made me take pause. I watched the steps he took in preparing it, eyes wide.

"Has any of your family members been?" I asked, blatantly curious.

"To Uzushio? My father went there. I suppose this is where he got the recipe." He laughed sheepishly, "We were just barely making it to end's meet and then father got the chance to visit that island and then everything changed. He came back and we got a new lease on life making ramen. Of course, since then, the recipe has changed since then. It caters to the taste of the people of Konoha, after all," the man was saying, hands working swiftly as he got two bowls prepared. Before long, I had a steaming serving of ramen right in front of me. I sniffed it, the genuine smells of Uzushio bringing me back to the sea breeze, the vast abundance of crops and the bright refreshing view of birds soaring in the air.

I wanted to cry.

Biting my lip, I strengthened my resolve to fill my stomach as I picked up my chopsticks. With a timid expression, I gathered noodles, and before I could think twice, I shoved it in my mouth, slurping up the rest. With wide eyes I realized that it did taste like the food I would eat on special occasions with my family. The flavor was there, just slightly watered down. It made sense. Uzushio was a place of spices and powerful, packing flavors. On many occasions I had seen foreigners taking a bite, only to spit it out, eyes wide with surprise.

I took another gulp, savoring it this time. With a grin, I turned to see how Minato was doing. His eyes gleamed as I had never seen before. He was used to it, but still seemed to love it. He jumped and I grinned.

"You come here often?" I asked, deciding that for today I would call a truce. I mean, he was already looking down as it was.

"Every day," the stall owner quipped and I swiveled to look at him in shock.

"That isn't healthy," I found myself chiding, "Don't you get tired of it?"

Minato considered this, shaking his head with a small smile, "I can't say that I have."

I frowned, "No wonder you're so weak and wimpy."

"Weak?" the stall owner asked, curious, "I thought you were at the top of your class."

"He is," I admitted, "but I still broke his nose."

"Broken nose...? Wait," the ramen chef snapped his fingers, "You're the girl Minato was so chatty about!"

"Chatty?" I was curious, "What did he say? Tell me!" I could almost imagine the blonde boy talking about how much stronger and cooler I was then he.

"No," Minato interjected, his eyes panicked, "Don't tell her anything."

"Please?" I begged and the man just helplessly shrugged, deflating my excitement.

"All I can say is that I agree with him about the hair," he grinned and I touched it self-consciously. I wondered what was there to agree about. What if it looked bad? Gross, even. It had been a mistake to cut it, that much was certain. Short hair and chubby faces didn't go well together. With a pout, I wished it would grow faster. I sent a glare to Minato, who just merely sat up with jolt and stared at his bowl of ramen. I continued to glare at him, and I was surprised to see him glancing at me from the corner of his eye. His cheeks were red.

"It's still not healthy," I found myself saying as I took another bite.

"I agree," the man said, "A proper diet for a boy his age and in his circumstances would be a structured intake of all food groups and not just wheat and a couple of toppings. Otherwise he could jeopardize his physical training."

"You hear that?" I turned to Minato with a pout, "Right now I can beat you in a spar and you wouldn't be able to put up a decent fight at all."

"I don't really know how to cook," Minato admitted sheepishly and I blanched, "My dad doesn't know how to either, so we usually eat here when he's not working."

"I'll cook for you."

It was out before I could think better of it and the blonde boy stiffened in surprise, eyes wide. I knew this face very well. It seemed every time I opened my mouth I was not only shocking him; I had been catching myself unprepared as well.

"I-I mean," I sputtered, "it's the least I could do for my opponent," that came out wrong, "for another prospective Hokage," that didn't work out so well either, "I mean, it's the least I could do for a friend," I finally settled on, agitated beyond all reason that I had to explain myself.

"Are you even good at cooking?" he asked, free of judgment, and I considered his question with a smile.

"Of course I am!"

"That would be... I wouldn't want to infringe," Minato ended up saying and I hit him none too gently. He winced, only empowering my decision to make food for him.

"The Hokage will, sooner or later, ask for help on occasions. It can't be easy dealing with mountains of paperwork," although I was certain he'd enjoy that part, "and unruly, hyper aware, paranoid ninja of all ages. So buck up and accept my generosity, 'ttebane!" The word 'wimp' was left unsaid but it was thoroughly intended. "Or I'll be there to take the role myself!"

"Thank you," Minato softly said, a brilliantly soft smile placed on his lips.

It was enough to make my face heat up. Stupid, aggravating boy.

All Part of the Healing Process

"Don't expect to get it right on the first try," Mito murmured, watching as I drew the first level of the seal. She was finally teaching me offensive fuinjutsu and it was exciting. First of all, it was a seal that, for all intents and purposes, was created to place to store actual weapons inside the body. It was highly dangerous, however, and Mito was keeping an avid watch on my every move.

"Once I'm able to draw the seal, I'll be using vacuums, right?"

"Your mother taught you well."

"She didn't teach me how to find them," I admitted.

"Through meditation."

The response threw me off guard. The Uzumaki weren't calm people by nature, so how I would even manage to do something like meditation was beyond me. Concentrating to learn seals was hard enough as it was.

Mito laughed at my expression, "It won't be easy but if you manage to do this, then you'll have proved to be on the track to becoming a sealmaster and specializing in fuinjutsu."

"Ne, do you think I'll ever be as good as you?" I asked, my eyes twinkling with the idea.

Mito considered this, expression thoughtful before she spoke, "The idea of fuinjutsu is very simple. It's the ability to store things within other things. We open up these vacuums and these dimensions in things that aren't even living. However, when your able to innovate on such a simple idea, then that's when I believe you would be able to surpass me."

I wondered if I was even that creative, "I'll do my best."

Mito smiled, "First, you have to learn this seal. Ah, you made them uneven," the aged woman then gently drew on the paper in front of her, "Like this, it curves.

"Oh!" I grinned as I started over once again.

"Very nice. Your calligraphy teacher must have taught you well."

I thought of my ever so diligent mother and grinned, she had taught me well.

All Part of the Healing Process

The next day, armed with a fully stuffed, stacked two-layer bento, I didn't pay any mind to the stares as I set the monstrosity into my cube. It was so big, however, that I ended up having to take out my outside shoes and place them in an empty one. With that, I slipped on my inside shoes and made my way to my seat next to Minato. He's blue eyes were very curious and I grinned.

"Lunch will be good," I informed him, thinking of all the things I made. Fried rice, shrimp, a steamed assortment of finely cut and seasoned vegetables, a variety of my favorite fruits, pickled plum onigiri, and three little cakes. The fourth layer of the box, however, was a mystery and would stay as such till the end of the day and I gave it to Minato.

"So you had been serious," Minato blandly commented and I nodded, excited for lunch time, just to show him how cool I was.

"Hmm," I replied with, preoccupied with getting my notebook out of my bag.

"What kind of things did you make?" Minato asked and I faced him, considering if I should tell him.

"It's a surprise," I decided to say, mischievously and by look on his face I could tell he was dying to know. I grinned, this was the best kind of reaction. Well, actually the best kind of reaction would be something I could hit him for. But knowing him, that was unlikely.

As soon as Ruta called the class to attention and he started on a lesson I had already learned ages ago, I found myself with my notebook once more, practicing seals. I felt Minato watching but I knew it wasn't my face. He was watching my hands. Oh yeah, Minato was actually into fuinjutsu. I glanced up to see where the class was at and then at Minato, who I knew had been just as bored as I was.

Why not just a little? I mean, I wasn't going to let him become a master but…

I started on a new page and thought of the simplest seal. The memory seal. Biting my lip, I drew the first layer, and wrote a side note, this is a seal to enhance the ability to remember things. I, then, went on to explain how seals were formed, how the numbers had to match up or otherwise the seal would be a dud. I watched his eyes and the curve of his lip as his interest grew. Numbers really could draw the boy in.

Before long, I had him practicing drawing it and watched in fascination as he quickly picked it up. He had even mastered it faster than Kenma had, in the mere hour we had spent indoors with Rutai. I had to take back when I called him stupid. He may be weak and wimpy, but he was smart. I had a nagging feeling that it was like this with everything given to him to learned. He truly was a prodigy. Just as class was ending and we switched to taijutsu, I had been showing him a new seal, one which had taken me about two days to master.

I had a feeling it wouldn't even take him a day as his eyes scanned it and he got it perfectly on his third try. It could have just been a fluke but from just that I could tell that if left to his own devices and basic explanations for things, he could surpass me within the year. So, yeah, my ego was deflated. I wasn't particularly competitive, joking aside, but with Minato it was different. I had to be better than him or else we couldn't stand as equals. Infuriatingly enough, I knew for a fact that he didn't see me as a rival. Just a girl with vibrant red hair.

Lips twitching with agitation, I knew one area in which I could beat him. Minato didn't eat properly and that went a long way. He was faster than me, sure, but he was weaker in strength and I had come with a clan kid advantage. I had my own unique fighting style compared to the others and I wasn't easily beat. Apparently, there was something about my springing moves, as I tended to jump into the air and was rather flexible, being disconcerting. There was also the added fact that you couldn't read what my next move would be because I didn't think of a next move unless the situation called for it.

Back to sparring with Minato, however. Lately, the other kids didn't want to go near me, for fear that they'd be beaten by the 'Bloody Habanero' or would be mentally scarred considering Taichi was still in considering he was still in counseling with the Yamanaka. Thus I had been left with Minato or anyone forced or brave enough. Today was no different—he truly was the only one that didn't completely get pummeled the first minute.

Once we got out to the training field, I settled into step with Minato. He looked at me curiously but I said nothing, just staring at him. It might be silly, using a scare tactic on the poor boy but it was him who easily got confused, hesitance coming soon after. When he asked if there was a problem and I said nothing, I saw the most confused, puppy dog-eyed expression ever. But I would not be tricked. In fact, I was furious he was trying to use such a thing against me.

Then I smiled my best smile, and gave a sugar sweet laugh, "You're dead today, Minato-kun." I had never seen fear quite like his, mixed with raw confusion and the unsaid question of, 'What did I even do?' but he would know soon enough.

"We'll be practicing throwing kunai today," Kurosawa announced and pointed to the rack of the hanging weapon, "Some of you kids have thrown kunai, but the majority of you kids have not. That is why I want the kids who accurately know how to throw these bad boys, in the proper way, then raise your hands. If you are lying in anyway and are just trying to look cool, there will be a punishment," Kurosawa glared darkly and I blinked, watching as kids who had raised their hands brought them back down. I kept mine up. "Ah, Kushina-chan, could you demonstrate throwing kunai?"

With flushed cheeks, I nodded before stepping forward and grabbing one of them off the rack. I faced the target and threw it easily, watching as it hit dead center. I guess what helped the most was the hours, upon hours I had spent gaining control and accuracy over my adamantine chains. My body and eyes were just naturally balanced so that when I was standing still, I could throw with deadly accuracy. Sadly, it didn't work for when I was actually moving, as I missed even the easiest target. I went and retrieved the kunai before standing in front the brunette. Kurosawa whistled.

"Good work there, Kushina-chan. Can you do it again, this time, walking us through the steps?"

"Sure," I agreed and faced the class. With a clear voice I explained the proper grip, the possible mistakes you could do and watched as the group of kids took in what I had to say. It was actually pretty nice, getting to be heard for change.

"It's exactly as she says," Kurosawa grinned and patted me on the head, "You'd make an excellent teacher, Kushina-chan."

"R-Really?" I asked, not used to being praised by her.

"Yes. Now, I want everyone to pair up, experienced with inexperienced. We'll be practicing this for fifteen minutes before getting into spars."

"You need to be taught, right?" I asked after rushing to Minato's side, gazing at the blonde as he nodded, looking uncertain about the whole thing, "Don't worry, Minato-kun, I won't kill you yet. That's for the spar."

"Why...?"

I answer his question. Biting my lip, I studied him for a second before pointing to the rack of kunai, "Let's get started."

"Okay," he settled on saying after a moment of pause. The two of us grabbed three kunai each and I brought us to one of the targets.

"I doubt you'll need my help for much longer," I started out with, the sore loser that I am.

"What do you mean?" Minato looked confused and I huffed out a sigh. Nothing was worse than a clueless prodigy.

"You're smart, you idiot," I didn't even care that I had just said something almost nice to him, "Now, grip it just like this. It'll make throwing a lot easier and your motions will be fluid."

"I see," Minato caught on as fast as I knew he would, holding the kunai as if it was made for him. It pretty much was, knowing what he would then accomplish with them.

"If you need to close one of your eyes for the first few tries, it's fine," I told him, recalling the trouble I had with them when I first started throwing at age three. Minato nodded before closing his left and throwing. It easily sank into the post, nearly hitting dead center. I wanted to cry, knowing that it hadn't been a fluke. With a huffy stance, I went and retrieved it, tossing it to him as he swiftly caught it. Tch.

"Throw again," I ordered and like a well-oiled machine, he did, this time keeping both of his eyes open. It hit in the center. I frowned but patted him on the back before retrieving the kunai.

"That was surprisingly easy," Minato realized, laughing. I couldn't wait for the spar.

We went on to have a throwing contest, seeing who was more accurate. Despite my years of hard work building up my skills, Minato won. At least it was close, though.

When we were finally called to gather around and spar, it was with great pleasure that I stepped up as the first opponent and watched as everyone but Minato look pointedly away when Kurosawa asked for volunteers. With a sigh, and an unhappy face, Minato raised his hand. I grinned. Attaboy!

"Minato-kun versus Kushina-chan, it is, as usual. You may start."

The moment he stepped in the ring and his stance was ready, I shot forward, determined to win fairly and without charging my fists. He dodged and I feinted to the left, watching as he fell for it. I shot my fist forward, smashing it into his chin. I watched while he lost his balance. I jumped on top of him and with an evil cackle, I bound his hands in front of me with a chakra chain.

I was showing off. So what?

There was a chorus of gasps when I heaved him up, my chains tightly coiled. As soon as I shoved him out of the circle and over the line, they dissipated and I looked at the blond boy to see his surprised face. Minato was also shocked. I mean, I was unpredictable but not that unpredictable.

"Kushina-chan, what did I say about using chakra?" Kurosawa chided even as she looked confused. Inwardly, I shrugged, knowing that I had still won.

"My chains are a part of me," I claimed, and she merely rolled her eyes as if it were an excuse.

"Next spar..." She went on with as I relished in the feeling of using my chains. It had been a while, hadn't it?

I could only get better.

All Part of the Healing Process – End

FanFic Highlight: Feathered Sanguine by Nanosilver, silver mirror of a killer by huayun, and A World Only We Know by Timely.

These works are all very original in their own way and I hope you enjoy them just as I have!