The shinobi village in Lightning deciding they didn't like the Leaf 'poaching' their local clans, even if the Hatake Clan was more a former Iron samurai-shinobi clan moving through their territory, showed in several of the usually more normal day-to-day things around the Village Hidden in the Leaf.

As optimistic as Hashirama was in knitting them all together as comrades and reaching out to more of their kind, they were all mostly shinobi or the merchant and craftsmen families that supported them. Suspicion was rife within their ranks, less of a social sport and more of a necessity for survival however much more the former was made use of.

'Cloud' was the whispers, rumors bandied around while ninja sought out their former or current teammates to hear and share how the scuffle between the three most powerful shinobi of the Leaf and the Hatake Clan had gone with the so-called shinobi village in the Land of Lightning.

Terazawa listened to the same rumors that made the Senju tighten their security on the children; the Uchiha put aside their training and work for more missions; the Akimichi to have their entire armory repaired or slated to have it done; the Nara to dive into their forests for weeks on end; the Yamanaka to hit their books; the Hyūga seek out their fellow shinobi more; the Aburame to come forward out of the woodwork in the strangest of places; the Sarutobi and Shimura Clans to start sharing their hoarded jutsu knowledge; and the Inuzuka to stick closer to their paired human partners almost as they did their dogs. Then she quietly ordered the Sekanji to ramp up their poison and medicine production, to store it away for 'a rainy day'.

It might not be needed in time. However it might be, and that was what the shinobi of the Leaf reacted to best. They were still suspicious and untrusting creatures, however well Hashirama was trying to domesticate them.

The Yamanaka Clan usually had 'first' hazing duties, being as they were a clan that 'did minds'. Given the situation and what comprised the Hatake Clan, the Sekanji Clan was given the dubious honor instead.

Tera invited the Hatake Clan head and his lady wife to tea, which was considered terrible enough of an incident that her intents for such was never asked.

As finding medicine for burns, injuries, or just general sickness was one of the first things anyone with injured did, Hatake Tadakuni and Kinu accepted without really questioning it.

Well… they were originally samurai.

"I am a poison mistress." The Sekanji Clan head informed the Hatake Clan head when the two of them were seated in front of her, the tea steaming near her hand and tasty snacks set out for guests on her writing desk between them. "Most of my clan's specialty is poisons and how to use them to full effect, but due to some happenings I… inherited a number of samurai. I give you and your clan an open invite to speak with them if you would ever have need of it, Tadakuni-sama. Tea?"

Flat black eyes under a shock of white hair stared at her for a long moment. "I will admit, Terazawa-sama, I had looked into a Sekanji Clan of samurai when Hashirama-sama made mention of your men in a letter."

Hmm… was that a yes or no for tea?

"You would have best looked for a Nakagawa, and he was a nobleman of Earth before some of his samurai decided they had treated me unkindly and followed me after his death." Tera poured three cups anyways, selecting one and a kind of biscuit made of rice the Uchiha Clan was strangely fanatically fond of. "I have learned a fair bit of samurai over the years they have been with me and my clan, Tadakuni-sama, Kinu-sama, and I have tried to teach them in return."

Kinu was the first to reach for her cup of tea, cradling it in so-light-they-might-as-well-be-invisible scarred hands that were not the mark of a merchant girl nor a noblewoman. "How does 'poison' translate into 'medicine', Terazawa-sama?"

"Terribly well. We poison ourselves fairly often, sometimes just to see what a non-lethal dose will do to the human body. There is an impressive collection of such research efforts in the poison library we maintain, and the beneficial applications therein."

"Beneficial?" Echoed the Hatake Clan head, no inflection in his tone to put a burden of answering on her but inquiring anyways.

Samurai turned shinobi, indeed.

Approving of such suspicion parsed so politely, she smiled for the first time. "Oddly, most remedies are poisonous if in too great an amount. Not all poisons are beneficial even in small doses. It is a strange disharmony we study. There is nothing in the tea that would harm an unborn child."

The Hatake Clan head's lady wife snapped her dark head up from contemplating the surface of the almost orange tea. "What?"

"I was unsure if you knew. I am a chakra sensor, I can feel the separate dense lightning chakra in your own earthy nature, Kinu-sama." Tera tilted her head to the side. "Congratulations, it's alive yet."

Shakily, going nearly as white as some of her clansmen and women, the woman placed the tea back on the desk.

The prudence was appreciated, but unneeded. She had to replace the set since Sarutobi broke the fourth cup.

"Tobirama-sama likely noticed as well, but he would see it as something not his business to inform you of." Tera murmured peacefully as the soon-to-be parents adjusted to the news in near silence. "However, as we heal as much as we murder with the very same poisons, I am not so passive. Kinu-sama, if you feel too out of sorts, drink the tea. It is specifically made to calm the nerves and not harm a pregnancy, my own mother took it while pregnant with my little sister."

Nibbling on her cracker, slightly sweet since she was serving a minty and slightly astringent willow bark tea, the Sekanji Clan head politely pretended deafness as well as selective blindness so the couple could have their moment.

"Terazawa-sama, forgive us but-"

"There is nothing to forgive." Interrupted the poison mistress sedately. "It is shocking news, I expected you to leave early. However…"

Pinning the likely former samurai making a go at the shinobi way with a hard look of her own, the kunoichi smiled again. Not a pleasant one this time, more a baring of teeth than a noblewoman's demure smirk. "I must warn you, the other clans of the Leaf will test you. See it as all in good fun, I implore you. It is not maliciously intended, but somehow tradition."

Tadakuni gave her a confused look, white brows knitting together over narrowed black eyes. "I… what?"

"You just had a very terrifying teatime with a clan head you only belatedly realized was a poison mistress and not the head of another former samurai clan, Hatake-sama. It was all so very terribly surprising, wasn't it?"

"...terribly." Kinu repeated at first blankly, then with a wry smile of her own. "Why… I feel so faint I might just need some time to myself, Terazawa-sensei. So wicked of you to leave that tidbit out of the introductions."

"Alas, I am a very mean woman." Commiserated the kunoichi sadly over her cup of tea. "I am afraid this will be talked about for weeks, and give you as much time to yourself before the next round."

"My lord husband must apparently take issue with your conduct, and visit often to remonstrate with you."

"I will have the medicine safe for pregnancy assembled and ready for him to select anything to treat that which might be bothering you, Kinu-sama."

"Really, Terazawa-sensei," bantered back the former samurai's wife, getting into the swing of things admirably well, "scaring us so. Why… I might just not accept the invitation of any further tea times from different clans."

"Perhaps not, stress and worry is not good for the baby. Neither are sudden shocks, I am afraid." Refreshing the tea in her hands, Tera then smirked up to the other woman. "You might need to put off walks around the village with your lord husband, it is he who will have to prove his clan's mettle in the coming month or so."

Sniffing in mock offense, the clan lady turned to her husband. "I think I like Terazawa-sensei."

"Additionally if Hashirama-sama or Madara-sama, or their respective brothers, ask… I did just this. To anyone else… it was simply terrible."

The fanged grin she got from the white-haired male was sharp in a not entirely physical way. "I'm reserving judgement, Terazawa-sensei."

"Alas…"

Heaving a sigh as the two of them left her office turned tearoom, the kunoichi inspected the still full cups of tea situated on the opposite side of her desk.

Smart of them, really… but depressing.

No one wanted to take tea with her anymore. Not even her baby sister, off as she was doing kunoichi things or trying to recreate the rock clones from her elder sister's stories with her little minion.

...where did Orochimaru gain his fangs from?

The Snake Summoning Contract, or just nature?

(ooo000ooo)

Momomi, as the 'poison user lite' version the shinobi of the Leaf were seeing if they liked or not to work with before risking something more lethal than the younger kunoichi, was merely a frequently-tasked-with-missions chūnin and significantly more busy than her poison mistress of an elder sister and clan head.

It was rare the sisters could spare the time to spend together now, between the younger teen's new duties as a ninja of the Leaf and the elder teen's various duties and more infrequent mission work.

"...and Homura-kun's coming along well, we're trying to apply the 'copy hand' mistake you made in your own clone experiments into a different trick to catch someone's ankle from afar. Or even to just pin someone in place." Mused aloud the younger and paler Sekanji, turning her head to admire the colors the setting sun painted their forestry new home with. "I think we're pretty close to making actual earth clones, which will just be… fantastic for missions."

She could then give the poisons that needed close deployments to the clones and not risk herself getting closer to her targets. Terazawa entirely approved of such developments. "I see…"

"What? I thought it was impressive."

"It is, little sister." Tera corrected with a wry smile for her. "It took me significantly longer to reach the same place as you and Homura-kun are at, more hands make for lighter loads and the resulting idea is certainly interesting enough to be not only useful but life-saving."

Oddly, their extremely pale skin did not show embarrassment or flushed features too well. Well… as long as a Sekanji had the paler than normal skin. Strangely thick papery white skin made them more like simply a painted people rather than possessing translucent skin in appearance. 'Tanning' for those with such skin was always interesting to see, a bleaching rather than a darkening of tone.

Burning was still an issue, excessively so, but they had very good creams for such issues.

The Sekanji Clan head certainly could blush with her tanner 'River native' skin, which while it did give her the motivation to control such reactions before they betrayed her horribly it made her slightly envious of her little sister's skin tone.

Momo pretended she wasn't embarrassed to hear her sister's praise for her with disgusting ease. "So what's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong, bluntly put." She was just being maudlin again. "Speak to me, little sister. I do not catch up with you that often, tell your elder sister what has changed and improved in your life."

"Yeah… no. You're not putting me off." Turning to fully face the elder kunoichi, brash copper clashed with tempered same. "I will start asking embarrassing questions around the village and your few… oh."

Tera blinked blandly at the miniature and paler version of herself staring back. "Oh?"

"You don't really have a lot of friends, still." Momo deduced keenly, considering the tanner variant of herself thoughtfully. "You've got… uh… that Inuzuka girl?"

"How observant of you."

"And now you're being bitchy." Dismissed the younger teenager, crossing her arms over her chest and peering at her fellow kunoichi-in-arms suspiciously. "You have to have more, there's a lot of people here… do minions count? No…?"

"And who, Momo-chan, trusts a poison mistress that much?" Tera drawled out sarcastically, waving a hand to dismiss the issue. "I did this to myself, little sister. Do not be worried, I was fully accepting at the time of such consequences and what it would mean for me. Still am for no matter the price is, was, and will always be it is more than cheap enough. I am merely… strangely emotional right now."

"You need some… how did you put it to me? You need to get laid." Taunted the other Sekanji sister in an impressively bland tone of voice. "When is your next outing with the Inuzuka girl?"

"With Kesai-chan, and not for some time still." Unfortunately, as her little sister was so correct.

"Find a guy to gain an 'understanding' with from the village, then."

"Dear little sister!" Pretending to gasp theatrically merely earned her a sardonic look that was normally pasted over her own features more often. "I am already borderline scandalous, a dead intended husband to my name and a kunoichi clan head. Such rumors that would breed, unable to be politely ignored as out of sight and out of mind, would just… ruin my reputation."

"You have the reputation of being an icy, poisonous bitch, lady sister." Momo put forth bluntly. "A noble one, and ever so polite, but more a toxic flower than a delicate one. Much like your wolfsbane blooms. Do you really think finding yourself male company you can stand will ruin that?"

"Yes." Equally as bluntly spoken, the Sekanji Clan head stretched out her legs as the sisters sat back against the outer wall of their home. Their porch wasn't exactly comfortable, as it was just wood. "We are not men, little sister. There are expectations to heed to and accommodate as to not be 'shamed' and more importantly avoided more than we are. It is unfortunate, but while a 'loose' man would be seen as merely experienced an equally so 'loose' woman is a 'ruined' one. If there were more kunoichi, if there were other women in positions of power, I would be more free."

The expression pulled in return was mostly amusing, and slightly worried. "Do I have to manage that? I confess, words and intents are more your weapon than mine…"

"No. You are safe as a 'kunoichi', as we all are considered scandalous but not terribly so. Not someone that needs to be held up as an example to others. At least in the village." Tera considered it more, because it was a worry Momo had, but eventually shook her head. "At most, as my little sister, I would expect a few snide words over how 'wild' you are from those that do not understand our lifestyle. However, as I do have an Inuzuka friend, most such fumbles you make among our ranks would be ignorable."

Pursing thin lips, coppery eyes flicked to the far wall of the compound. They were not entirely 'far' away from the walls, and if a shinobi visitor wanted haste over manners… yes, she could sense them.

"Hashirama-sama, Tobirama-sama, the both of you seem to have an ill-acquired habit of eavesdropping."

A sheepish laugh, more for being caught than the shame being caught should give such men, and the God of Shinobi slid out from behind the far corner of the handsomely built house nearest the compound's wall with a charming smile. "Nice range, Tera-sensei. How far can you feel with that?"

"When I pay attention? Far enough, although I deem doing so to the very range of my ability to be rude while in urban areas such as the village. At least when I am 'home'."

"Might want to take note of that, Tobi." Half-ordered the Senju Clan head with a wave to his albino shadow of a brother, giving the young women perched on the porch another smile a touch less bright. "Lonely, Tera-sensei? You can always come over and speak with Mito, I don't think she'd mind."

"I tend to not want to inflict my special brand of wit on others I like when I feel out of sorts, Hashirama-sama." Tera demurred politely. "Aside that, while I know Mito-sama would receive me graciously she is also equally as busy these days. Imposing so, especially if I am less than an equally gracious guest, would be frightfully rude."

"And it would never do to be rude?"

"Exactly." Purred the Sekanji Clan head with a wicked smirk. "To what do I owe the occasion of a personal visit, my lords?"

Hashirama sprawled out before the sisters, grinning at them at an equal level even with how tall the sisters were growing these days. "What did you do to the Hatakes, Tera-sensei?"

"The lady of the clan is pregnant, I gave them the news and a convenient excuse to hide her non-involvement behind while they decide when to reveal the information. Do act surprise when you hear, Hashirama-sama. It wouldn't do for a healer to gossip about their patients."

Tera nodded to Tobirama as he lowered himself to a more dignified position than his elder brother picked to seat himself, for as much as her opinion on his nature had remained mostly unchanged familiarity did breed a kind of associated tolerance. He was normally her team leader or bodyguard when she acted as a poison mistress for the Leaf.

"That's nice of you, Tera-sensei."

"Of course, it now forces the others to be more cunning or be entirely flummoxed when they try to unnerve or otherwise bother the Hatakes."

"And wicked, great job!"

Easily pleased as Hashirama was, Tera was amused to be given a contradictory set of complements in short order. "Indeed. However as pregnancy is a delicate thing, I could not in good faith allow the shocking of the Hatake Clan's Lady to occur without warning."

"I'll ensure no one bothers you about it too much when the news comes out in time." Because the Senju Clan was oddly fanatical about the safety of children, which she appreciated given how many orphaned Sekanji there were starting to feel their way into the village, she just nodded in acceptance of the offer.

"Hatake clansmen seem to be the type to be hardy." Tobirama observed, because again he was an asshole.

"Which does not entirely translate to the women that marry within the clan, Tobirama-sama. A samurai-girl herself or not, Kinu-sama does not deserve to be put at risk for our amusements."

"You believe the child is at risk?"

"I believe as of right now, it is too early for the child to be the risky aspect. The mother's condition is more important, as she is the one providing for them both for now."

"Damn." Hashirama spoke evenly, a small pout on his face as he absorbed her opinion and weighed it against his own. "That's… hmm. Thanks for picking up after us, Tera-sensei."

"Someone has to."

"Stop being a bitch, lady sister."

Tera glanced sideways, meeting similar copper eyes staring back at her. Both sisters smirked at the same time, more fond on the elder's and wickedly on the younger's ends. "Whatever would I do without you, Momo-chan?"

Said paler miniature of her stuck her nose in the air and sniffed. "Die a decrepit old woman before you are twenty, lady sister."

"Wait." Hashirama held up a hand, looking actually slightly confused. "Tera-sensei, don't poison me for asking or anything… but… how old are you?"

She paused, counted the date into her mental assumption, and hummed. "Seventeen. Just so, actually. My birthday is August fourth."

Momo made a dismayed noise she honestly expected to occur from the Senju Clan head if at all. "We didn't do anything for it this year!"

"We are busy, and I do not like to make the fuss." Reminded the poison mistress calmly. "We can throw a party for my twenty-first birthday, and then politely ignore I have an age."

The God of Shinobi made a kind of despairing noise she had not yet heard out of him, horror rapidly overtaking his classically handsome features. "Tera-sensei! I have a child older than half your age!"

"I am unsurprised." He had likely married Mito early, and that would allow a man nearly so or at thirty years of age to have a living child within a ten year age range. More likely more than one. "And?"

Brown eyes blinked back at her blankly for a moment. "You're kind of… impressive. I thought you were easily twenty-something the day we met. I hope my daughter ends up half the woman you are."

"Likely better, Mito-sama is a woman I respect and if she ends up half of her lady mother…" With a wave of a hand to dismiss that, the kunoichi still smiled back at the now cheerful Senju Clan head. "I will take that 'impressive' as a compliment, Hashirama-sama. Do inform your lady wife, I would like to keep my guts where they are now."

The man snickered, amused and highly pleased with her words.

As he was a shinobi, regardless of how cheerful, the possibility the threat she was trying to evade likely amused him as much as the comment about his daughter pleased him was high.

It was hard to tell.

"So… then-"

"Brother, you have what we came for."

"Shush, Tobi. The gossip! That I can use to surprise Mito with!" Grinning at his long-suffering brother, Hashirama turned back to her with viable eagerness. "So… why does the Hatake Clan head continue to visit your compound in such an obvious mood, Tera-sensei?"

"Well… I did give them the offer to come speak with my samurai if they feel the need… but, more likely as this is Tadakunai-sama we speak of, it is for the pregnancy-safe medication I invited them to pick from if Kinu-sama feels too out of sorts." Tera contemplated the man, and Tobirama because asshole or not he was her comrade, and smiled evilly at the both of them. "Really, Hashirama-sama. Asking about my loneliness when you ignore your own little brother. I make the time for my little sister..."

There was a slightly surprised and highly wary, on both brothers' ends, pause. The Senju Clan head gave her a wry smirk for a split second before turning a more horror-filled expression on his heir.

"...Tobi! I'm sorry!"

"Get off me." Still rather smoothly sliding out of the lunging choke-hold the God of Shinobi tried to catch him in even when they both started in a seated position, Tobirama shot her a seething look before bolting off to avoid any more of his elder brother's 'love'.

Oh my, she had finally got a reaction of a level she had been looking for.

How… interesting.

"Oh no. I know that look, lady sister. I'm going to go find Homura-kun, plot away from me."

(As Terazawa eventually took Utatane Koharu on as an apprentice poison mistress in the making with the understanding that clan secrets were secrets, she saw more of Tobirama than she normally did so in the first half year the Sekanji Clan was part of the Leaf. Strangely, while smirking evilly around the man did make him nearly as grumpy as Uchiha Madara was normally the albino Senju Clan heir didn't avoid her person nearly as much as she had assumed he would now she knew a 'weakness' of his. Fascinated by the change in their usual interactions, she didn't manage to avoid Hashirama throwing her a belated birthday party with her own little sister's help. The Hatake Clan managed their 'hazing' period more gracefully than anyone else yet to date, earning them a better reputation even after Tera's warning was widely known to the other clans. The reasoning was solid, and Hatake Naname was born healthy anyways.)