Familia Ante Omnia

by StrifesLady

What would it be like if everything about Harry Potter was wrong. What if Lily Potter wasn't his mother? what if he had more than one godfather? What if he was raised by Isshin and Masaki Kurosaki? What if Harry was a She? What if the Blacks had a secret? What if Harry remembered who he used to be?

26. Chapter 25: Of Banishment and Wounds

Chapter Twenty-Five: Banishment and Wounds

Meanwhile during the winter holidays, Hagrid came across a disturbing sight in the Forbidden Forest, the centaur herd had surrounded a single centaur, Firenze. He overheard as Bane said, "if you wish to defend the Humans then go live among them!" Bane then kicked at Firenze's side with his hind hooves, Firenze couldn't dodge the attack since he was surrounded by the others, so with a sickening crack the hooves connected with his rib cage.

Hagrid winced, he knew just how bad broken ribs hurt and that blow had definitely broken a few ribs. He frowned to himself, if the centaurs were exiling Firenze then why was he surrounded by them. He finally had enough and boomed out, "hey now, what's going on here?"

The herd looked up and Bane said contemptuously, "none of your concern, Human."

Hagrid frowned and said, "I may not know much about centaur herds but I thought you wouldn' be gangin' up on one of your own."

Bane sneered and said, "he's not one of us anymore."

Hagrid marched into the middle and said, "if he ain' one of you anymore than why don' you leave him here." Hagrid had been carrying his crossbow, just in case of running into a beast that he couldn't persuade to leave him alone.

Bane was about to attack Hagrid for the presumption of being able to tell him what to do, when one of the others whispered into his ear, "better let the traitor go Bane. We do not want trouble from the Headmaster of Hogwarts after all he controls the wards here."

Bane snorted and stomped his front hooves before he said, "take the traitor then. He is no longer welcome in the Forest." With that Bane and the other turned and left the half giant and wounded outcast centaur in the clearing.

Hagrid steadied Firenze and asked, "are yeh alright?"

Firenze sighed and said, "no, but I will be eventually. I will have to find another herd to join, that is if any herd would have me." He then looked up at Hagrid and said, "you really shouldn't have defended me, no you won't be welcome very far in the Forest now."

Hagrid snorted and patted Firenze on his human shoulder, "don' yeh worry none. I'm used to handling difficult beings. Now let's get yeh back to me cabin and fix some of those wounds of yer's."

Firenze nodded wearily and followed Hagrid out of the Forest, he looked sadly back a few times to the clearing, he knew that he would never be accepted back into the herd again. The only way they would take him back was if Bane was dead and even then he rather doubted they would. Besides he would have to renounce what he declared and he would never say that he was wrong about needing to help the wizard win against Voldemort.

Hagrid was bustling around his hut, gathering bandages and medicine for Firenze's wounds when Professor Dumbledore dropped by to chat. He was rather surprised to find a wounded centaur being cared for by his groundskeeper and said, "hello Firenze. What brings you out of the Forest?"

The young male centaur looked down and said, "I've been banished from the herd."

Hagrid who had been cleaning a few of the cuts caused by the hooves of the other centaurs snorted, "they were literally kicking him out when I came across them." He could tell that Firenze was going to object so he glared at the centaur and said, "don't argue with me Firenze. They banished you they didn't need to kick you in order to get you to leave. They had you surrounded, if I hadn't of come along they probably would have killed you."

Firenze closed his mouth that he had opened to defend the herd, he had no defense against Hagrid's damning words, he knew that Bane would have struck a blow that would have slowly killed him. And the others wouldn't have stopped him either…

Albus hummed and said, "what will you do now, Firenze? The others will not let you return."

Firenze sighed and said, "I do not know what I can do. The Forbidden Forest herd is one of the few centaur herds that I know of. And none of the other herds will let me in when they hear why I was kicked out of my old herd."

Albus frowned and asked, "why did they kick you out?"

Hagrid said grumpily, "I have no clue but they kept referring to him as a traitor."

Firenze sighed gustily, "I told them that we should be working with wizards to stop the rise of Voldemort. They took offense that I would dare suggest working with humans, Bane said that it was the humans problem and to let them solve it." Firenze shook his head ruefully, "Bane refuses to see that if Voldemort wins, we will all lose. He will not leave us alone if we stay out of the conflict and if we join him we will be the first to go. What use will he have for stargazing centaurs." Firenze said the last sentence sarcastically.

Hagrid snorted and said, "you've been spending too much time around Professor Snape, Firenze."

Albus thought for a few minutes, "Firenze I have a proposal for you."

Firenze looked at the Headmaster before he asked curiously, "what is this proposal?" Hagrid also looked up at the headmaster curiously.

Albus smiled and his blue eyes twinkled mischievously, "simple my dear friends. How would you like to teach the students how to divine the meaning behind the stars movements?"

Firenze blinked in shock, "me? Teach the foals of your herd? You would allow this?" He asked in disbelief.

Albus chuckled before he said, "part of the rules of the Hogwart's charter state that a non human may be employed at Hogwarts so long as the students aren't threatened by the prescence of said non human. In other words, yes Firenze, I would allow you to teach and the parents cannot stop me from hiring you." Albus had sat down at Hagrid's table and was drinking a cup of tea as he had spoke to the pair.

Albus took a few sips of tea then said, "actually, I do believe if you take the job that the first five classes are mandatory for all divination students after that they must choose between your class and Professor Trelawney's."

Hagrid finished bandaging Firenze ribs and was putting away the unused bandages and ointment when he heard that, he snorted and commented, "I know which one a certain duo of a certain trio will be taking."

Albus chuckled and said, "indeed Hagrid. Firenze I will leave you to think upon it, I do not need an answer right away. Allow your injuries to mend first before giving me your answer."

Firenze shuffled his hooves before he nodded in agreement, "very well headmaster." Firenze then turned to Hagrid and asked, "is there somewhere I can bed down? I can no longer bed down in the Forest, since I am unwelcome there, if I return they will kill me."

Albus hummed and commented, "you may bed down wherever you feel comfortable. If you wish I can have the house elves transform an area to be more comfortable for you to sleep in."

Firenze looked at him thoughtfully before he commented, "that would be nice. Thank you headmaster."

Three days after Christmas, Kushina and Kisuke left for the Seireitei, Kisuke was still in charge of the twelfth division. Although Shinji was relieved of his position as temporary captain of the third division, Gin Ichimaru had been reinstated as Captain after it was discovered he had been spying on Aizen as per the King's orders. Ikkaku Madarame had been promoted to Captain of the Fifth division since Renji Abari had declined the position, citing that as a parole officer he would be unable to relive the current Captain of their duties. "Besides," he remarked, "I'm more comfortable as the Lieutenant of the Sixth division."

Rukia had laughed at him, but she had then been offered the position of Lieutenant of the Thirteenth division, she had stared at the captains in shock. She had turned disbelieving eyes onto her adopted brother who merely remarked, "you have become strong enough to stand on your own two feet. Besides, you did make the correct decision to grant Ichigo Kurosaki your powers, without him we would have never realized until too late what Aizen was up to. Nor would we have won the war without great losses to our own forces, according to Gin Ichimaru, Ichigo saved his life from one of Aizen's blows."

He then looked fondly down at her and stated, "although I wish to keep you safe, the decision is yours to make."

Rukia looked down at her feet before she looked up with resolve glowing in her eyes and said, "I accept the position of Lieutenant of the Thirteenth division. I will do my best not to let you down." With that she gave a bow and after she received her Lieutenant badge left for the living world.

Ichigo had been offered the position of the Lieutenant of the Fifth division, the only reason they hadn't offered him the captain position was because he was still part of the living world and it would be unreasonable to allow a captain to stay in the living world. But a lieutenant could be posted to the living world for a few years without any true trouble. Byakuya had asked and gained permission to allow Ichigo and their child to stay in the living world as well as for him to be able to commute back and forth between the two worlds. The head captain had granted his request, Byakuya could use his personal Senkaimon to go back and forth without his permission anyway, so why bother arguing about it.

Ichigo had accepted the position and warned Ikkaku that just because he was Ichigo's captain didn't mean he wasn't going to argue with Ikkaku. Ikkaku had laughed but said, "I wouldn't want you to anyway. It's more fun if you argue with me," he had given Ichigo a grin and commented, "besides, if you didn't argue with me. Who would I spar with?"

Kushina had spent the first two days catching up with her cousin, the Visoreds and Yoruichi. During one of her practices in the morning several of division nine had come to watch and stared in shock when she breathed a fireball from her mouth. Their mouths gaped when she had formed a dragon made of water and made it curl around her in defense. Of course what was shocking them the most was the fact that she was standing on one of the walls, sideways. Ichigo snorted and yelled, "you're not in my inner world Kushina! So what in the heck are you doing standing sideways on the wall?"

Kushina looked at her cousin and commented, "simple Ichigo. I'm practicing my jutsus and my climbing skills." She put a mock concentrating face on and said solemnly, "it takes great skill to climb a wall without the use of your hands." He snorted in amusement but left her to her practice and the shinigami to their gaping and shocked muttering.

After three days in the Seireitei both Kushina and Kisuke left for the living world where Kushina wanted to spend time with her other two cousins, the rest of the Visoreds and Ichigo's friends. Kisuke took her out to one of the winter festivals and as they walked around Kushina was reminded about the festivals in Konoha. Minato had always played some of the games and won prizes for Kushina, he'd also pay for some of the orphans to play a game or two.

Kushina spotted the Prewett twins at the festival and snickered over the outfits they were wearing, as she watched the pair she noticed they were following a white haired man around, the man appeared to be ignoring the twins tailing him. Uryu came up beside her and said, "Ryuken has not been able to get those twins to stop pursuing him so he's taken to ignoring them."

Kushina glanced over at the teenage Quincy and asked, "isn't Ryuken your father?"

Uryu nodded before Grimmjow popped up beside them and offered a Dango stick to Uryu. Uryu blinked a bit in puzzlement before he accepted it while murmuring, "thank you Grimmjow."

Grimmjow smiled at him before he scampered off toward the games, as he ate the Dango, Uryu commented, "he's been doing that lately." After Kushina glanced at him curiously, he elaborated, "bring me something to eat before he runs off to do something else."

Kushina snorted and said, "he evolved from a panther hollow right?" After Uryu nodded, she laughed softly before she asked, "you've never owned a cat have you?" He shook his head, she smiled at him, "he's basically acting like a cat would with an owner it adores." She clapped on the shoulder and commented before walking off to find her fiancé, "in other words he likes you!"

Uryu gaped at her in shock before turning wide eyes toward the gleeful hollow who was listening intently to an operator of one of the games that tested a persons strength. 'Okay Uryu, there is nothing wrong with a hollow liking you. After all, if he likes me he's less likely to eat me.' As he thought that Grimmjow turned to look at him and beamed at him, Uryu smiled fondly at the hollow without thinking.

On the twelfth of January, Kushina and the others boarded the Hogwarts express for the next term at Hogwarts. Meanwhile at Hogwarts, Firenze was speaking to the headmaster about what he would be teaching if he accepted the position of Divination professor.

Albus sucked on a lemon sherbet while he thought about what Firenze could teach, "well, I was thinking you could teach them what the stars mean to the Centaurs. As well as how to somewhat divine what the particular arrangement means. After that you can teach them whatever you feel comfortable teaching them. Where would you like your classroom to be?"

Firenze tapped his left front hoof on the ground before he said, "on the ground floor if possible, since I would be unable to climb the stairs. It would have to have a similar ceiling as the Great Hall, other than that could you make it seem as if it was in a forest?"

Albus nodded, "of course, whatever makes you comfortable while you're teaching. The children will be returning to the school tonight, I will introduce you then." Firenze nodded before he turned to walk back to Hagrid's hut to allow him to change the bandages around his human torso.

On the train several students dropped by to see Kushina to ask when the next Shinigami Arts class or S.A.C. as the students started calling it was going to be held. She laughed and said, "when the next term starts of course." She then shooed them out of the carriage to go spread the news around.

Malfoy seemed to be leaving them alone this trip though Blaise, Daphne, Astoria and Theo dropped by to visit for a while. Astoria rolled her eyes and said, "he's at it again. I swear if he asks me one more time if I want to go to Hogsmeade on a date with him, he's going to get it."

Kushina looked up from her new Icha Icha novel and asked, "Malfoy?"

Theodore snorted and muttered, "who else would be asking her to the point she's ready to hex him."

Ron snorted and said, "go ahead. I'm sure it helped Hermione when she slapped him in third year."

The four Slytherins looked up at Hermione and chorused, "slapped him?"

Hermione blushed and nodded, "he made me mad at him to the point I just lost it and slapped him."

Kushina snickered and said wickedly, "she's got a good right hook."

The rest of the ride was spent quietly, though when Lee and the twins came to check on the trio and the others, Theodore blushed a bright red and kept his head down. Especially since Lee dropped down in the seat next to him and started talking about Ancient Runes, it turned out that both were taking that subject. After a few minutes of them talking, Theo relaxed and was able to actually discuss several theory's on the Runes that the fifth years were studying.

By the time the Hogwarts express pulled into Hogsmeade station the pair were quite relaxed around each other, Theo ended up sharing a carriage with Lee and the twins up to Hogwarts. The trio shared their carriage with Luna and Ginny. Astoria shared a carriage with her sister, Blaise and Neville.

As the students settled into their seats they noticed that a place was made but there was no chair at the spot. They muttered curiously amongst themselves before the headmaster stood and the Hall fell silent. He beamed down at them and said, "I hope you all had an enjoyable winter break. I'm sure that several of you have noticed an empty place at the Staff Table and are wondering who will be sitting there. It has recently come to my attention that our dear Professor Trelawney hasn't been teachings the divination of the stars to you correctly. So I've asked someone who knows how to divine the stars to teach, after much debate he's accepted the post."

Albus looked over his glasses at the students and commented, "the first five classes with him are mandatory for all divination students. After those classes are through you may choose between the two professors or continue with both." Several students sighed in relief, they didn't truly like Professor Trelawney's way of teaching. So the option to drop her class in favor of a new professor seemed like a godsend.

Albus smiled at the sighs of relief from several of the students before he announced, "may I introduce the new secondary Divination professor, Professor Firenze." Kushina's head shot up in shock, she then turned to the Great Halls doors to see it swing open and allow a Centaur into the hall.

The students were in shock they had never seen a Centaur besides in their school books, Firenze nodded his head to the Headmaster and said, "good evening, Albus." He walked up to the Staff Table and stood at the empty setting next to Hagrid. Lily greeted the centaur kindly before turning back to Severus to discuss a potion she was experimenting with. James and Remus smiled at the Centaur who nodded in greeting to the marauders, he remembered them from tales that Hagrid had told him as a foal. He had always been rather curious about humans, and whenever Hagrid entered the forest he would always been one step behind Hagrid asking questions. Hagrid always answered the best he could, and told him stories about the human foals who had already left the school.

After dinner the students went to their common room and on the way discussed what the new divination professors class would be like. Kushina commented to her friends, "Firenze is quite nice, he actually explained something to me during our detention in the forest in First year."

The other Gryffindors turned and the twins chorused, "what do you mean detention in the Forest during your First year?"

Hermione, Neville and Kushina blinked then Hermione commented, "that's what our detention was after we were caught after hours outside the common room."

The twins looked at each other then growled, "and who sent you out into the forest at night?"

Neville shrugged and said, "professor McGonagall assigned the detention."

The twins looked up at each other than nodded resolutely, a certain kitty was going to be having pranks played on her for sending eleven year olds into the Forbidden Forest. Kushina noted the look but didn't say anything about it since Sirius had already yelled at Professor McGonagall for sending four children into the Forbidden forest after dark for being caught after curfew.

Remus on the other hand had refused to speak to her for a month, while when James and Lily found out, James had glared at her coldly and said, "never do that again." Lily on the other hand had decided to speak politely to her and didn't refer to her by name for as long as Remus ignored her.

Even Albus had been unhappy when he heard that she had sent the children into the forest, she couldn't even say that Hagrid hadn't told her what he'd be using the students to help him with. Hagrid had been expecting seventh years not first and the only reason he'd taken them was because Filch had been threatening them with a worse punishment. Better the students think he'd requested them rather than the Deputy headmistress sending them into the forest without a second thought.

After that the Gryffindor's arrived at their common room and settled in, Kushina went to her rooms, grabbing her sketch pad before she came back out into the common room and began drawing. She commented to the Weasley twins that she'd seen their Uncles during the holiday and that they had been pursuing a reluctant doctor. But the doctor's son was rather fond of their Uncles.

The twins looked up at her gleefully before they exclaimed, "so we might be having a step cousin?"

Kushina nodded while sketching Ryuken and the Prewett twins in her sketch book, "yeah, but I'll warn you. He likes pranks but he won't pull them, he's a bit like Percy but a little more loose than him. Right now he's being courted himself, but I don't think he realizes it yet."

Hermione looked over at her from the novel she borrowed from Kushina, it's lurid orange cover had caused quite a few odd glances but no one had asked what she was reading. Hermione asked, "who's courting him?"

Kushina snorted before turning the page in her book, "Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, you know the person he's playing parole officer for as well as the person he's responsible for socializing."

Ron looked up from his chess game and said, "that was the blue haired man we met during the winter holiday right?"

"Yes Ron, we met him over Christmas." Kushina and Hermione chorused before turning the pages in their books in unison.

Ron snorted before he commented, "well that will make life interested for Uryu."

Kushina looked up at him and smirked before she said, "in the words of Hermione's favorite alien, 'indeed.'" Hermione playfully glared at Kushina before returning her attention to her book.

The rest of the common room looked at the trio strangely before resolutely ignoring them for their own sanity. It was an unspoken rule of Gryffindor, if the Golden Trio started acting strange the whole house was to ignore them because the insanity might be contagious. Admittedly every time the trio had done something crazy it was for the good of the school and it had won Gryffindor the House cup ever since the trio had begun school.

In the dungeons of Hogwarts Sirius was worshiping the porcelain goddess otherwise known as the toilet. Severus was rubbing his back, after Sirius had finished throwing up he handed him a glass of water. "Are you alright?" Severus asked his husband worriedly.

Sirius slowly drained the glass and said, "yeah, I think my stomach has calmed down now." He smiled wanly up at Severus and quipped, "I don't think our child likes fish."

Severus laughed lightly, he was glad that Sirius hadn't lost his sense of humor from all of the morning sickness he was experiencing. "When did Madam Pomfrey say that the morning sickness will stop?" He asked while helping Sirius to his feet, Sirius swayed slightly but soon was steady on his feet.

Sirius walked over to the bed and said, "hopefully by the end of the third month. She said that most pregnancies usually only had morning sickness lasting until then. But I could end up having it through out the pregnancy."

Severus leaned over his husband and ran his fingers through his bangs, "I wish I could give you something to ease it."

Sirius turned onto his side and looked up at Severus, "unfortunately, the only morning sickness prevention potions have ingredients that I'm allergic to." Sirius tugged Severus making him lie down beside him and said, "don't worry. I'll be alright, Poppy was right, the crackers and water seem to help, I can keep those down just fine."

Severus snorted before he got back up from the bed and prepared for bed, after he did so he slipped back into bed and pulled Sirius back toward him. He rested his hand over Sirius' which was over the slight swell of his stomach. He rubbed the area gently before he commented quietly, "I didn't think you'd be showing this soon."

Sirius huffed, "if it weren't for how skinny I am, I wouldn't be showing yet. Madam Pomfrey said that it shouldn't show much more than this until about the seventh to the eight month. I just hope this morning sickness stops soon so I can gain a bit more weight, Kushina's promised that as soon as it stops she'll make me whatever I want."

Severus muttered quietly, "lucky devil."

The pair talked quietly about what they might name the child if it was a girl or if it was a boy. They finally decided on a set of names before they fell asleep, Severus committed both of the names to his memory before he slipped into Morpheus's arms.

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The next day, Sirius was surprised to find that he slept through when he normally was up and praying to the porcelain goddess. He sighed in relief and wondered aloud, "maybe I'm finally past the morning sickness. Still better stay in our quarters today just to make sure, wouldn't want to be surprised after all."

Severus was already awake and preparing for next Monday when the next term would start. He looked over his shoulder to see Sirius walking out of their bedroom, he hummed a bit then commented, "I didn't hear you this morning."

Sirius grinned at him before he said, "that's cause I didn't need to wake up and bolt to the bathroom."

Severus raised his eyebrow sardonically, "really? Hopefully you won't have to make any quick runs to the bathroom to throw up." He said before snagging his husband by the waist and pulling him into his lap, Severus nuzzled at Sirius left temple.

Sirius chuckled, if he ever told anyone how much Severus changed in their quarters, how affectionate his husband became once they were alone, many would declare him insane. He said, "true, that's why I plan to stay inside for the next few days." As Severus gave an almost purring sound, much like he'd sometimes made in his animagus form, Sirius laughed and said, "if I told anyone how you act sometimes they'd never believe me. Heck if you acted like this outside our quarters over three quarters of the school would faint from shock. The rest either wouldn't believe or they already know about it."

Severus gave him a wicked smile before he commented, "maybe I will one day just to see the look on their faces." Severus watched as his husband looked down at him with a grin before he gave what had become his trademark barking laugh. Severus smiled, he was happy that his husband had finally started to shake off the effects of being in Azkaban, he was smiling, laughing and pulling pranks on people again. Sirius was finally beginning to act like Padfoot again instead of an insane mass murderer.

Kenpachi showed up on Saturday as usual for their weekly spar, the pair were alone in the Room of Requirement, so far their scores were seventeen to fourteen in Kushina's favor but the total of draws was seventeen.

As they left the room of Requirement Kushina muttered, "well that brings the total number of draws up to eighteen."

Kenpachi snorted then said, "if we were fighting for real, it'd be a bit pointless huh?"

Kushina nodded, "you're right, we're fairly evenly matched. I highly doubt we'd ever be fighting against each other for real anyway. Sparring is enough, what do you say we up the ante?" Kenpachi glanced at her curiously, asking wordlessly what she meant. She elaborated, "say whoever reaches a total of twenty five won matches first gets a prize. What would you want the prize to be?"

Kenpachi hummed before he said, "I don't know…" he scratched his head and offered, "a bottle of sake…maybe." He then glanced down at her and asked, "what about you, what do you want if you reach twenty five before me?"

Kushina hummed and said, "hmmm, five boxes of Pocky. I love that stuff, not as much as I love ramen but still high up on the list." Kenpachi nodded in agreement and made a mental note of what to get if she won twenty five spars before he did.

Yachiru had decided to stay at Grimmauld Place when Kenpachi had come to spar with Kushina, when the pair reached the steps leading to the lower levels of the school Kushina pulled out the Marauders map and activated it. She spotted Hermione in the library and said, "well, Hermione's in the library if you want to see her before you head back to Grimmauld place."

Due to his frequent visits to spar with Kushina and lately to court Hermione the students of Hogwarts had become immune to seeing the large and rough man in the school. Kenpachi strolled down the stairs toward the library while Kushina continued to the common room and her rooms. She had decided that she was going to take a long soak in the tub to get the soreness out of her muscles from when Kenpachi had slammed her against the wall. They had decided today to spar without their swords, just hand to hand combat, after all it wouldn't due to get rusty at fighting without a sword and need to fight without one.

Or as Kushina had put it, "it's the same principle as a condom, 'it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.'"

Kenpachi had stared at her then asked, "what's a condom?"

Kushina had stared back at him then said, "ask Uncle Isshin." Kenpachi had shrugged and mentally filed the word away to ask someone later.

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The next day during lunch after Kushina's weekend morning spar with Kenpachi and subsequent draw for that day, Ron asked, "hey, Kushina?"

She hummed in response to let him know she was listening, most of her attention however was on her Ramen. She had taught the house elves how to make it during one of the morning she'd been woken up by odd dreams.

Hermione was eating Sheppard's pie while Ron's plate was full with his usual lunch fare, "what does ANBU stand for anyway? I mean all that you said about it in your dream diary was that they were 'an elite guard service named the ANBU,' so what does ANBU stand for."

Hermione looked up from her food and the other tables listened in eagerly, especially those who took Divination as well. Kushina hummed but after she finished her mouthful of Ramen said, "ANBU stands for 'Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai,' literally translated it means 'Special Assassination and Tactical Squad,' the ANBU take orders from no one except the Kage of their village. They perform special highly ranked missions, such as assassinations and torture, ANBU usually work in teams but can sometimes work alone. The teams are formed to the requirements of the mission at hand in order to ensure maximum success. The Shinobi that make up the ANBU are hand-picked by their Kage; they're chosen for their individual abilities and special skills. Age, gender, background and previous rank bear no weight in the decision of the Hokage."

Kushina leaned back and said ruefully, "actually the last head of the ANBU was originally a Chuunin. She'd been chosen despite that to be an ANBU and rose to the rank via her absolute loyalty to the Kage of Konoha. He entrusted her with the position of his head guard, the Hokage's head guard is a position highly coveted and sought after by all ANBU. Members of the ANBU can return to their previous rank without punishment, ANBU wear masks in order to hide their identities."

She sighed then smirked at Ron, "their identity as an ANBU member is only to be known to their Kage and the village elders. However if an ANBU requests it they can have what is called a touchstone, this person is the only other person to know the identity of the ANBU and will sometimes be sent after an ANBU if they are injured during a mission. An ANBU will imprint all of their senses on their touchstone so that they won't attack them while the touchstone is patching them up from their last mission."

The students were gaping at Kushina, Ron and the others that shared Divination with Kushina were staring at her in shock. Kushina seemingly oblivious to the staring continued her explanation, "team leadership and hierarchy in the ANBU ranks are determined by merit and experience. The leaders of the teams are called the Buntaicho, or squad leaders, it is a position held in high regard. The masks that the ANBU wear are stylized like animal faces, the face determines their ANBU name, if the mask is that of a bear then their ANBU codename is Bear. The same if it's a weasel or a fox or a tiger, the ANBU takes the name of their mask as their own, the Kage chooses the mask based on the personality of the ANBU member."

She chuckled ruefully before she commented, "the Fourth Hokage's personal ANBU guard had the mask of a dragon and had taken the name Ryuu. When asked why he'd chosen that mask for her he said, 'because she's as fierce as a mother dragon protecting her eggs. Besides, like a dragon, you do not want her angry at you.' He was right, Ryuu was fiercely defensive of those she considered hers to protect, the Hokage was one of her few friends and as such she fiercely defended him from all attackers. Not that he actually needed her protection…"

She then looked up from her meal to find the entire Hall staring at her in shock, she asked almost defensively, "what?"

Dean said, "so the ANBU are trained in Assassination and torture…And you still played that prank on them in your dream!"

Kushina nodded before she commented, "yeah, why not? They needed to loosen up, they were a bunch of prudes who couldn't take a joke anyway." With that she got up from her seat and sauntered out of the Hall, she called over her shoulder, "I'm going to go train some more."

After she left mutters broke out all over the Hall, and those of the Staff who had been there when she had explained about her past life knew just how she knew all of this information. Here was someone who actually lived in the Elemental countries and could tell them how the people in those countries worked and lived. After James and Lily had been rescued from the prison house, Kushina had explained the fact to them as well, when the Prewett twins had heard that she'd played pranks on her village continuously they had bowed and said, "you are truly a Gryffindor little one." She had asked which house they'd been in while at Hogwarts, the Weasley kids listened in and were shocked when Fabian and Gideon had chorus, "Slytherin!"

Kushina had wandered off on her own, and had decided against going to the Room of Requirement, she decided instead to go train near the lake. She had to practice her water walking anyway, she'd already gotten her wall-walking and tree-walking back up to snuff so she had to get the last one back up to her old standard. Much like how Kakashi's father had been referred to as Konoha's White Fang, Kushina had been referred to by Konoha's enemies as Konoha's Crimson Blade. The chakra of the Kyuubi had influenced her own to the point that her chakra had turned crimson when she manipulated it with a chakra absorbing weapon.

Minato had gifted her with a set of blades after she made Chuunin rank, both blades were able to absorb and manipulate her chakra. When she reached the rank of ANBU she'd put away her twin blades unless she was in regular uniform, she hadn't wanted the enemies of Konoha to realize that Ryuu was the Crimson Blade. In all bingo books beside both of her profiles was the order to not just flee on sight but to avoid at all costs, including abandonment of the mission if either of them was spotted. And since none of the other countries realized that Kushina the Crimson Blade and Ryuu, the Red Dragon were one and the same they had another order, if both were spotted in the same area and engaged you in a fight, commit suicide rather than fight them.

Kushina had snorted when she'd seen the order and said to Minato while she leaned on his desk, "not very bright are they?"

She remembered Minato's laugh clearly, she remembered the way his blue eyes had sparkled with laughter and delight. Those below the Hokage tower had heard their Kage laughing and although wondering what had caused it, they were happy to hear it. She had always loved making her husband laugh, it had always made his eyes light up and the worry disappear from his face. So she always tried to lighten his spirits anyway she could, and it always worked, she'd play a prank or make a lighthearted joke in a serious situation and it would make him happy if only briefly.

As she remembered she was going through the motions of water walking, her version of training for water walking was different, unlike others who were just happy to be able to stand on the water. She had always trained her body to the highest extent, she could not only walk on the water she could roll, jump, leap and in one instance actually danced with Minato on one of the lakes of Konoha.

While Kushina was training at Hogwarts, Naruto had found her old blades and held them up, he saw the note hidden inside the box and read it.

Dear whomever that has found my swords,

My name is Kushina Uzumaki, and I am known as the Crimson Blade of Konoha. If you are reading this than I have either died or have been rendered unable to return to here. These swords can channel and control chakra, if my son is alive please deliver these to him as they are a family heirloom, my sons name is Naruto. If my son is not alive and did not leave behind a child or grandchildren then please keep them for yourself, but the blades will not be Red for you.

Yours sincerely,

The Crimson Blade of Konoha

Kushina Uzumaki

Shinobi of Chuunin Rank

Naruto stared down at the blades and note in shock, his mother wrote this, he bit his lower lip and decided to ask the Cheetahs if this Kushina Uzumaki was his mother. He bit his thumb and swiped the blood across the seal hidden on his upper arm and summoned a cheetah.

Etsuyo appeared in front of him and asked, "what do you need Naruto?"

He looked down at her and asked, "did you know my mother?"

Etsuyo nodded, "yes, she was a great fighter." The female cheetah laughed and said, "the enemies of Konoha called her 'The Crimson Blade,' your father had gifted her with a set of swords when she reached the rank of Chuunin. She swore that she would teach you how to use them." She cocked her head to the side and asked curiously, "why did you ask?"

Naruto showed her the letter and the swords, Etsuyo purred and said, "then they are yours now. Not only did you find them but they belonged to your mother once, she'd want you to have them."

Naruto looked down at the two swords and the letter before he asked tentatively, "my mom wanted me, than?"

Etsuyo snarled and growled out, "of course she wanted you. When she had received the news that she was pregnant she raced to her friends and your father to tell them the news. Your father fainted at first but was very happy, he was delighted to have a son, the only reason you do not carry his name is for your own safety. Once you've achieve the rank of Chuunin, the boss is going to tell you what your fathers name is."

Naruto blinked and asked in shock, "so if I want to know who my father is I just need to reach Chuunin rank?"

Etsuyo nodded and said, "yes, your father asked that we tell you. If you can reach Chuunin then you can protect yourself from your fathers enemies. Although if word gets out about who your mother was they'd probably run far away first." Etsuyo snickered at the memory of how frightened the other countries had been of her summoner.