Author's Note:

Hello, so life has been really crazy and I'm sorry. Good thing is that now I have a lot less on my plate and I'll be able to update more frequently like I want to. Yeah, so that disclaimer thing. Naruto all its characters and yada yada yada doesn't belong to me I'm just playing around with a vague part of a mentioned era with my own OFC that has no relation to the actual NarutoVerse.

Chapter: 6

Its been about two months since Ashina started training everyone to his expectations. With Itsuo and Nanako living so close, things were really lively. I find amusement in their little competitions and pranks. I forgot how ridiculous the show was, but I've gotten used to most of their antics by now. Naturally, I got to know more about everyone on Mito's guard detail.

For one, Jumongo was more a a philosopher and was a really good listener. He was quiet and observant, but by no means was he a pushover. He has a little sadistic streak and he was considered the Ninjustsu and Weapons expert. He also has a really big sweet tooth for dangos.

Utakate is mysterious but abrasive. He is very passionate about swordsmanship. He keeps quiet about most things, but I notice he gets this really teeny smirk for the children's antics and he really does have a soft spot for Mito. I would label him our Kenjutsu Expert. Honestly he seems more like a samurai than a ninja.

Itsuo, well, he plays the part of goofball really well. I mean yes he is a goofball, but he takes his training seriously and always tries to improve himself in all aspects. I also learned he is the youngest and only boy out of the 5 siblings, so he has it a little rough at home and always tries to prove something mostly to himself. I consider him the Taijutsu expert of our little group.

Nanako she is more of our guerilla tactics expert. Her repertoire isn't extensive as everyone else, but she has the edge of dabbling in poisons. So a nick from one of her coated kunai can generally bring most of them to their knees. I still have an immunity to most poisons so they don't really affect me. I've also unwilling became her test dummy. I think I made a monster in poisons out of her.

Ume well isn't really all that good in Taijutsu say like Itsuo, but it was passing for a Jounin. Her summons definitely gave her an edge and she was the best at Wind Jutsus. She is way better than everyone else at seals, besides me. She was already considered a Seals Expert so I'm officially giving her that title.

Lastly, there is Mito. I found that she can use up to 20 of her adamantine chains and more often than not they pop out of her back when she is really mad. It's kind of scary actually to see them moving about all agitated. She is also kind of a tsundere. I found out she likes to take in a lot of stray animals, but they all love her gentle and caring nature too. This bring us to our current situation.

Mito and I had our morning stroll around the village and she happened to find a small kitten abandoned by its mother. Naturally she wanted to take it home after it just walked into her open arms. I tried the be the voice of reason because she has a whole section of the compound already dedicated to a lot of her strays. A lot of the birds come and go as they please and I feel like she does not need another one.

"Jun-chan look at her little face! Look at her face and tell me you wouldn't let this adorable kitten live with us." She held the kitten up next to her pouting face and I swear it's like the kitten understood us because its eyes got impossibly wider. I slapped a palm to my forehead.

"Fine! This is the last stray we bring in until some of the other strays actually leave and don't come back."

"Yatta!" Mito hugged the kitten to her and already started talking to it in a baby voice as we headed back to the compound.

I have not gone soft! No one would have been able to say no to those big innocent cyan eyes.

I already turned to the spot that had Jumungo's chakra signature before we even left the alley.

"Another one Jun-san?" He asked walking besides me.

" I couldn't say no. However I was firm in that she can't take in another stray until some of the others leave permanently." I said shaking my head in exasperation. He put a had on my should in comfort.

"I understand how you feel. As fun as this is, I have a message from Ashina-sama. He wants Mito-sama and the detail to meet in the meeting room. Soon." I patted his hand that was still on my shoulder.

"Alright. I'll make sure we are there soon. If you need to tell any of the others you may go ahead and leave." He nodded his head and with a shushin he left." I caught up to Mito.

"Okay, Mito-sama, play is over for the day. Ashina-sama wishes to meet everyone in the meeting room soon." She looked up from nuzzling the cats face. She had some fur stuck to her cheek.

"Alright, let's not dally and shushin to the compound to drop off this cute girl." She shushined and I was right behind her.

We shushined right out side the door leading to the room for cats. She opened it up and there was all 25 of her cats lazing about or playing. The kitten was a little cautious at first until some of the other kittens went over and yowled. They ended up rubbing against each other and Mito let out a little squeal.

"Come Mito-sama. Ashina-sama awaits us." I put a hand on her should and nudged her.

"Bye little kitten. I'll think of a name for you later." Mito turned around and coughed into her hand.

"Lead the way Jun-san." She gestured with her hand for me to go and I walked out into the hall.

Halfway to the meeting room Jumungo joined us. He nodded his head and before too long we were at the doors leading to the meeting room. I opened up the doors and walked in. I took my seat two seat cushions away from Ashina-sama's right. Mito took her customary seat right next to him. Jumongo took a a seat next to me. I felt the others shushin outside the door and they walked in and took their seats around the table. Utakate took the seat next to Ashina's left and Nanako and Itsuo took the seats opposite Ashina.

"Hello, everyone, before we discuss what I called you all here for, I just want to say I am very proud of all of you and how far you all have come. All of you are probably a bit stir crazy being pulled away from missions and such. Therefore we come to what I wanted to discuss. It's been two months since we heard from the Hatake Clan. They are our allies through the Senju and they have asked us to see what is happening with them and help if needed. The Senju are currently dealing with another attack from some of the minor clans and no doubt the Uchiha Clan will show up. You will not engage in their skirmish if the Uchiha get involved. I don't want them stealing any clan secretes, so stay clear. Understood?"

"Yes, Ashina-sama!"

Everybody resounded with a firm and serious tone. The Uchiha have not attacked any of our own clansmen yet and we would prefer to stay out of a potential conflict.

"Jun-chan and Mito will be the ones to directly engage with the head of the clan; Daitan Hatake. Should Jun-chan be unable to for what ever reason, Utakate you will take her place. You have interacted with Daitan-san before. It goes without saying but always be alert. The Land of Snow is a harsh land and its people are hardy. It will take a weeks travel at shinobi speed and boat to cross the sea.

"Ano~ Ashina-sama..." I had my hand raised slightly in the air

"Yes, Jun- chan?"

I placed my hand down, "One of my learned abilities is I can transform into a dragon...that can... hold...eight...people... Don't look at me like that guys..." I felt my eye brow twitching just for the sole fact I could see Itsuo's face and his eyes had stars in them.

"She wants us to ride her all the way to Snow!" Nanako snickered behind her hand like a little kid.

Ume laughingly bonked her on the head said, " Yare yare try to keep it appropriate; we are in a meeting Nanako-chan."

I giggled a little at the thought and true to fashion couldn't help but respond with, "Honey, I'm a ride you guys couldn't survive."

I even did some overtly exaggerated winks and kisses. Even silent Utakate-san laughed a little with Jumongo-san.

"Jun-chan that could come in handy for later. For now just standard travel. When you do come back from your mission though, I will have a proper harness outfitted for your Dragon form so everyone may fit and I have some questions later." Ashina-sama said while drinking; what smelled like a type of ginger tea of sorts.

"Yes Ashina-sama, " I bowed my head slighty.

The rest of the meeting pretty much went on like that trying to hold it very seriously, but with Itsuo, Nanako, my two cents and Ashina-sama's leniency it proved to be longer. Not that anybody really minded. Lunch did have to be brought in though. We did have a few contingency plans though. Without any of the other guard detail noticing I slipped a small scroll to Ashina-sama. I watched as he switched his teacup to his other hand that he read the note and switched the teacup to his other hand as instructed. I grinned and twirled a lock of hair around my finger as I interrupted Nanako and Itsuko again.

"I bet a fifty percent coupon off at Daisuke's Weapons Shop on his specialty gear that Mito and I will leave the meeting room last and still beat you guys to the gate in one hour."

I looked over at all the others and looked back to Ashina-sama.

"Alright, meeting is over go get ready and meet at the gate in an hour. Mito-chan and Jun-chan stay I have to brief you on some agreements and possible contracts and maybe trade routes-" The others bowed and closed the door and the privacy seals went back up.

Ashina gestured for Mitoto to move to the back of the room with him. I followed and he pulled a tatami door that led into a small room.

"You can use this room Jun-chan."

I moved to the middle of the room and I saw Mito open her mouth.

"This is the absolute last contingency if and only if, I know for certainty that even after everyone's efforts; and all my power and knowledge, that I ABSOLUTELY can not save you Mito-sama-" Two incredibly large sigils formed from my own blood; it boiled the blood inside of my body too. I kneeled and let the sigils spread on the ground and engrave themselves magically. Dark red light, lit up from the ground and bathed the room making it eerie.

"Then I willing sacrifice both my eyes so Mito and the guard detail may live; Ignitorine; Dragon God of the Void."

The lights drew into the sigils until there was complete darkness and then I felt the all encompassing burning on my eye balls as the contract was made. I bit my tongue to so much not as to whimper from the pain.

I tasted blood on my tongue and I scoffed, "I am not that weak."

The room was lit normally again with a swipe of my hand and a glowing sigil shattering and dissipating.

I turned to look at Ashina-sama and Mito, "My precious sight will be taken from me forever. I will be damaged. I ask if its not too much trouble to still keep me around. I'm willing keep giving up much more of myself for family." My eyeballs were no doubt really red from the irritation and crying tears of blood so it didn't look pretty.

"This is now a portal that once activated; can be used any time without anymore sacrifices. So, yeah I'm confident in everyone's ability to keep you safe. This is more than just my word to both of you. This is something precious to me I very much like to view life; all the good, bad, the pretty, the ugly, the happy and the sad. That's what life is and I'm happy to just be able to see people experience life."

I sigiled out a black towel to wipe away the blood from my eyes. Since my eyes were closed I didn't see Ashina-sama close the distance between us. I felt his hand upon my head and I peeked a look from the towel.

"You are a good one Jun-chan. Uzumaki never give up even when it seems like we may die. That's one of the reasons why we are so hard to kill. It's really good to see you trust in the others so much already even before your first mission together. I believe you guys will do just fine."

I actually had a moment where I was embarrassed a little and I could feel the slight burn on my cheeks and ears. He chuckled and walked out of the room to no doubt take care of other Clan Head duties. It was a casual dismissal so I took it for what it was. I sigiled the black towel away and smiled at Mito.

She smiled at me and said, "Let's take the long way to the gate we will still be there way before everyone. It's a good thing you and I already keep near everything on us. You would think with them being Uzumaki they would do the same."

I waved her off as we made our way out of the compound, "You and I both know besides Utakate-san; who has his lady friend, everyone else has their important people to say good-bye to. I'm sure you and Ashina-sama had your private good-byes last night." I poked her in the cheek with my finger.

"Isn't that right princess tsunder-" I rolled forwards out of the naginata she pulled out of nowhere.

"DONT. CALL. ME. THAT!"

She had the glare that could kill and her hair was doing the scary waving in the air thing. I just whistled nonchalantly with my arms behind my head and walking backwards.

"~Oooohhh~ scary princess makes an appearanc-" I had to do a back bend as the naginata brushed just the tip of my hair "and she misses quite a lot!"

I took to the roofs as I flipped and jumped over a leg sweep.

So, I found out two months ago during the beginning of training; when Mito asked me to spar with her that she can generally keep a clear head. However, I'm like a cat that plays with its food. Baby I've lived hundreds of years... only top notch high speed inhuman people/super naturals at this point can touch me generally. Mito while quite fast wasn't Ashina level yet. Anyways, that entire spar I didn't let her land a a single hit. I always let her get really close and because of the Uzumaki Vitality spars can be a long long time. As you can imagine irritation did eventually show on her face. That was when I went for the kill and started taunting her. Nothing hurtful of course, but enough to get her more frustrated.

Dear Mito-sama eventually became so frustarted when I may have implied that some princess' can turn out to be tsunderes. Of course I wasn't saying she was. Nope. That she may have broken one of Ashina-sama's rule of no weapons and poofed in a comically big hammer that had me stunned for a moment. A moment in which she took advantage of and hit me right into Jumongo-kun. We both ended up into one of the many pools of water in the training grounds. Jumongo just pulled himself out of the water. I kinda of floated at the top with my arms crossed, with one hand under my chin and eyes closed.

"Ah, this is a thing yes."

I let the water gently move me up then on the ground. It retreated back into the pool leaving me completely dry.

"Nice, shot Mito-sama. If you want to do weapons now; this is one my previous master used to help me learn many things."

I sigiled out a magnificent foot long circular piece of ancient bark about an inch and a half in width. It looked like any old piece of a wooden rod, but this thing is incredibly hard to break and is, well, magic proof. Yes, magic proof not magic resistant. I decided this was the ultimate trolling weapon ever and I asked my Master for it upon my official initiation into the Hunters.

The others all laughed at me; Itsuo being the loudest, "That's just a stick!"

"Yes, yes it is. Or is it? I can never remember. I forgot what my Master told me."

Long story short Mito and I fought again with her switching out the mace for her naginata. I avoided all her strikes again and moved us so we were fighting on the water. I then proceeded to school her. On one of her jabs to my face I got within her guard. In quick succession I slapped both of her wrists with the stick and ripped the naginata out of her hands and twirling it behind my back and onto my shoulders. She was unbalanced and I capitalized on it before she got her footing back by sweeping out both her legs and tapping both her feet with the stick as I used the momentum of my leg sweep to turn around. Once around I caught Mito-bridal style before she hit the water's surface and drowned since her chakra to her hands and feet were cut off. She yielded pretty quick and nobody was none the wiser as to what really happened during the spar.

Anyways back to the present time...

I hopped from roof to roof twirling out of the way and occasionally throwing back the standard stick out tongue and pull down eye lid routine. She gets riled up and its kinda funny. "Princess the Gate's ahead you might want to put the weapon away." I teleported from the roof and in front of the guard house there.

"Oi! Jun-Chan!" He was a couple yards away and jogging towards me I waved at him.

"Damn looks like I lost. Wait Mito's not here I still have a chance of winning!"

He started to run and a shadow passed right by him. I smiled as I took my punishment.

"Uzumaki Heavenly Drop Kick!"

My face was in the ground and Mito's heel was on the back of my head.

"Otto-tottotto. What did Jun-chan do Mito-sama?"

I heard Itsuo ask as I felt what I'm guessing was his finger poking my body to see if I was alright.

I felt the weight of her foot leave my head and I lifted my head to see her flustered.

"NOTHING! Jun-chan was just being a Baka! Isn't that right Jun-chan?"

I nodded my head as she had that forced smile on her face that promised pain if I said anything to the contrary. I dusted myself off as Itsuo did some stretches in the meantime till the others showed. We didn't have to wait long as Ume and Nanako round the corners from opposite street sides while Jumongo and Utakate came from within the guardhouse.

"You kids sure are lively today." Utakate's deep rumble washed over us and I rubbed the back of my head.

"I may have provoked the princess a little. Oh, that reminds me since Mito and I won the bet~" I turned to look at Mito I sigiled out the coupon.

"Tada you get the fifty percent off coupon for Daisuke's specialty goods. Congrats! I know you've been wanting that Custom Chakra Metal Conducting Naginata. Sorry we couldn't take a long walk through the village, but I figured you'd want this a bit more, yeah?"

I gave her a wink as she took the coupon and gave me a smile.

"Yes, thank you Jun-chan." She composed herself and sealed it away.

"When we come back home we can get it ordered, yeah?" I gave her a goofy smile.

Itsuo threw an arm around me and I had to adjust for his weight, "Let's eat at Todori's first when we get back!"

Nanako put Itsuo in a headlock, "Itsuo's payin!"

"OI!"

The guards held up their hands in the release sign and opened the gates as Nanako ran out first with Itsuo chasing her. The rest of us followed at a more subdue pace and when I took my place besides Mito I bumped shoulders with her. She looked at me and I just gestured with my head at those two, rolled my eyes and smiled. She just shook her head then looked up at the sky.

Author's After Note:

So, I may not have a lot on my plate anymore, but I still play video games. Therefore, I have my video game days and sometimes I just might not edit a whole bunch through the week, or hell I could do it all in one night. It depends what I do in game really. Any who I'll try not to go months without updating again.