Four months ago

Rina woke up before anyone else…except Kiseki. She always woke up early, just like Rina. After the two sat down at the table for breakfast, Kiseki told Rina something that, at first, was frightening.

"Rina," she said, "I know you're keeping a secret. You joined the Akatsuki."

"What are you talking about?" Rina asked, trying to get the idea out of her aunt's mind.

"I know you joined, Rina. I've heard about you in the Leaf Village, and how you recently fought a few Jounin there."

"I'm sorry! It was all I could do. No one believed a word I said, and no one allowed me to say what really happened."

"Don't worry," Kiseki told her, "You had to join them. Anyway, I did something in my past that I'm not to happy about either…"

"What do you mean?'

"When I was just fifteen, and my mother and father were in charge of the school, Orochimaru attacked. He considered our school a threat because we'd trained some of the best fighters there are. Orochimaru also knew that we couldn't bear to lose anyone. So at one point, he attacked us directly. He threatened to take one of my sisters, and as the oldest, I couldn't allow him to take them. Itoshii was only five, and your mother was only twelve. They never would've been able to live under Orochimaru's harsh conditions."

"So, you told him to take you instead?" Rina asked.

"Yes, and he did. I was forced to work for him as a servant, fighter, and…much worse…"

"Still, how is that the same?"

"I killed so many innocent people in his name. I had no choice. Still, I eventually managed to escape after three long years. In that time, my mother died. Only a year later, my father died. I had to raise Emi and Itoshii after that."

"That is kind of similar. Still, what you did, you did for your family. What I've done, I've done for myself…"

"Who can you do anything for? You're alone. You've tried your best to be what you wanted, but it wasn't what was meant for you."

The two said nothing. They ate their breakfast and Rina went to see her other cousins.

"My goodness, Rina, you're looking more like your mother every day. You've grown a lot since I've seen you!"

"Aunt Itoshii, I haven't seen you in years."

"If you'd like to learn a few new techniques, Tetsuda is outside."

Rina walked outside to find her cousin, Tetsuda, who was only twelve.

"Before you start training, you must find a peaceful place in your mind. Become unaware of your surroundings," Tetsuda told her. "Once you've done that, focus all of your energy on your hands. Then, open your eyes."

"My hands are…glowing," Rina noticed.

"Now, that energy can be used to heal others."

"Ah, Tetsuda, always the peacemaker. That won't always save you," Kensei said, walking out with them. "Peace is unattainable in this world, and violence can't be ended."

Both daughters of Itoshii were passionate about something, but those things were very different. Tetsuda was convinced the world should be peaceful, with no fighting or violence. She always believed it was possible to save everyone from becoming warriors who had no respect or care for the world or the others living there. Kensei had always been a fighter, training her strength and learning to control her chakra. She'd believed killing and fighting were both parts of life, and wouldn't stop. She thought the world would never become peaceful.

"I'll show you some real jutsus…" Kensei told them.