A/N: Thanks to a helpful reader, I realized how confusing the whole split between Hana/Kiriko/Tsunami thing is!

So I'll break it down here in a way that actually makes sense, because my author-brain glosses over things way too easy!(Thank you for the feedback, "A Guest")

(Undetermined Last Name) Hana was born in America, grew up with a single mother and an older sister that died much too early. She became a trauma surgeon in the ER so that she could prevent the deaths of patients who ended up there like her sister had. She was the youngest and most successful doctor there was. But she had grown up watching Naruto with her sister. She died trying to save another woman from being killed and sexually assulted.

Tsunami Kiriko was born in the Land of Water, grew up to an absent Daimyo father and dead mother. She has a single sibling, but many half-siblings. However, despite her and all of her siblings being illegitimate, she is one of the heirs to the throne despite the true wife of the Daimyo being barren after producing a single heir. She died (for undetermined reasons) while tracking Momochi Zabuza down to (presumably) kill him.

Hana's conscious with memories of another life and the body of Kiriko calls herself "Tsunami" while searching for her true identity. She unknowingly guesses the last name of the body she fears she stole, and disassociates herself from whoever Kiriko was. But she's also not really Hana. She's something in between. Therefore, she sticks with "Tsunami" while Kiriko is Kiriko, and Hana is Hana. Some weird soul stuff happens to keep all three "alive", and this will definitely have plot significance when the time comes(think, there are gods of death that eat souls here. Do you really think an anomaly like the Tsunami Trio will be left alone?)

I would say that Hana is Ravenclaw, Kiriko is a total Slytherin, and Tsunami might be Gryffindor? It's hard to say with Tsunami. Hana in Cabin 6, Kiriko in Cabin 5, and Tsunami is some unclaimed camper.

Anyway, thank you all for reading and commenting! I live to read your feedback.

TRAINING INTERLUDE

"Tsunami-San! Mizukage-Sama requests your presence!" A run-down, older Genin bowed and held out a summons scroll to me. I, after a moment of heavy and uncomfortable contemplation, accepted it and let him run off. His pace was faster than I expected from a Genin, but seeing as he had a career of running to and from places to send messages… This same poor guy was the one who sent scrolls to me every time Mei wanted something.

Now, to go or not to go?

For the first time since the War, I decided to go. But instead of going through the door as was expected of me, I crashed through the window.

Any scrapes from the glass against my skin was healed up in seconds thanks to the Sanbi. The floor, however, was littered with glittering shards and new carved out scratches.

"You requested my presence?" I put a hand on my hip, which cocked out. My eyebrow was pulled up, and hopefully my entire being exuded the insubordination I felt right then.

She looked at me in a deadpan before her deep green eyes trailed over to the broken glass scattered across the floor. The rocks had white, dusty gashes in them, but it's not like it mattered since the entire tower was just temporary. She simply sighed, bowing her head to hide her expression before looking back up at me, a frown on her face.

"Done ignoring me now?" She snarked. I dipped my head in an affirmative response. "Good. How is your team?"

"They're progressing along nicely. Doesn't mean I like that you gave me a fourteen and sixteen-year-old," I replied in the exact same tone of voice. "I'm thinking of training them against the full might of a Jinchuriki though."

She seems to have aged a few years at that.

She skipped over the question of why I would unleash that upon them.

"You have my permission to use Bijuu chakra against them…" she groaned.

I wasn't really asking, but I didn't voice that thought. I said I was done with my insubordination now, and would hold true to my promise.

"And how are you?" She asked, looking past my eyes, like she was searching for something. She, like always, seemed so tired. She had the weight of an unstable village upon her shoulders, and the responsibility of a leader during and after war. My heart found it in itself to forgive her for piling the responsibility of leading a team of Genin onto me, even when my spiteful mind tried to hold on to any piece of resentment.

'I should have known the consequences that would come with accepting that Hitai-ate.'

"I am able to use Shōshen without trouble once more. My chakra control is better than it was even before the sealing." And wasn't that a surprise. A Jinchuriki with fine chakra control? That was just about unheard of. Actually, it was unheard of.

The potential for that was insane. A near Tsunade-level medic who has the chakra reserves of a Jinchuriki? Who could heal in seconds without the funky diamond seal on her forehead? Not to mention the fact that she fought in a war and against a Kage. It would return Kirigakure to world superpower status.

"And what do you have in plan for training tomorrow?" Mei seemed to relax with this conversation, and I finally allowed myself to pity her. I had ignored her for a week while she needed someone to talk to casually. She had Ao, but he had a stick up his- I mean, he had the conversation skills of a Hyuuga. Not good.

Me and my bleeding heart. Ugh, I feel guilty now.

"I'm thinking of beating them into the ground again. Let them bond over mutual pain or something," I shrugged, keeping my feelings locked up and throwing away the key. Seriously, I was supposed to be fifteen-years-old here. And I had five students. Five!

I was some kind of war hero, and a Jinchuriki now.

And I had the memories of a civilian doctor in my head, who had no people skills. Hana was awkward to talk to. She was a prodigy beyond her years, and turned up her nose to the unintelligent, even if she tried to maintain some form of social security. At least she turned into mush when her coworkers told her about their pets... Kiriko was a spoilt brat who hated everything that came into contact with her, except baby animals! Me?

…

It was all just a mish-mash of "this is not teacher material" on a neon arrow pointing at me. Kiriko. Or whoever I was now.

"I should get back to training Coral Release. It reminds me quite a bit about Senju Hashirama's Wood Release," I told her, bowing slightly at the waist, before jumping out the window again. I pretended not to hear her giggles at the sheer absurdity of it all.

'A respectable Shinobi jumping out of a window? Pssh, that's not funny at all.'

"Sensei!" Aiko yelped in surprise, stumbling over her feet. I looked over to her, seeing that she was with all of the other Genin teammates.

All five of them. Willingly together. Well then, color me vaguely impressed.

Ignoring the fact that they were all staring at me like the end of the world was in progress…

"Yes?" I asked, crossing my arms across my chest. At times, I felt it odd to stare down at my fifteen-year-old self's body. I barely recognized it as my own.

My body was packed with muscles, not a hint of flabby flesh that was on my old civilian- Hana's body. I was more wiry than buff, though, maintaining an agile shape that could pack a mountain-crushing punch.

My hair, after training, had been taken out of its braid and let loose. I kind of forgot what it was like the have my hair swish around my body, falling over my shoulders. The impracticality of it had made Hana chop it all off, and it still was a liability in battle. I was just good enough to not let anyone grab at it.

In my hands were bags with groceries. I bought a lot of food to make for my new team.

And with the way that they all just make it to their houses to sleep after training, I was surprised to see them out and about. They did seem to be worn out, though.

"What should we prepare for tomorrow?" She asked, straightening herself out and into the pristine noble clan-member posture that Haku held himself in. That the not-ANBU Yuki had been. It was truly something to see an Elementary-Age kid have more class than most adults. Her picture-perfect pose was muddied only by the apprehensive way her lips twitched down, and eyes were averted.

I decided to throw them a bone.

"Be prepared to fight me," I said simply. I looked over them. Sora, Haru, and Aiko seemed to be more determined than ever. Chojuro was the same as always, in an awkward slouch and seeming far to lanky to wield one of the Seven Swords. Shigetsu was, surprisingly, not brooding behind them all but stood with the group with her signature scowl. "Oh, and Sora, you should learn the Hiding-In-Water Jutsu from Haru."

"Hai, Sensei!" The chorused.

I power-walked away from them, trying not to send glances over my shoulder.

'Since when did they get all buddy-buddy?!'

I got to my apartment, given to me for free by Mei, and began experimenting with Coral Release in a hurry.

Week 2, Day 2.

"Again," I sighed, watching them all jump up from where they were laying on the ground panting, and ready for yet another fight. They knew they were supposed to work together, but they didn't know how.

They tried, but obviously none of them were used to fighting with others.

They were solo-fighters. That was not good for a Genin, but it meant that they were pretty much prepared for the 1v1 tournaments in the Chunin exams.

That won't matter if they never get there in the first place.

Chojuro, as always, was the first to charge me with Shigetsu right behind him. Then, the three younger Genin leapt into the fray.

A single parry of Hiramekarei into Shigetsu had her stumbling back to avoid the flounder-shaped sword, the the team of three were attempting to dogpile me while throwing pointy objects- it was a mess.

"Enough!" I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. I always thought that was just a stupid thing people in books did, but it really did give me relief. "Sit."

And they all did.

"Obviously, none of you know how to fight in tandem with each other. You don't know any Taijutsu combos, or Ninjutsu combos. Geez, even a slight Genjutsu to throw someone off would be better than this!" I breathed in to keep myself from ranting further. "Sora. What did you want to be?"

"ANBU," he replied quickly.

"I have trained you to be as close to a stealth specialist as I can! What does that mean you should do?"

"I… I do sneak attacks?" The deadpan look I gave him sent him blushing in embarrassment. "Oh… yeah, that makes sense."

"Stay out of sight and use the Silent Killing Technique. Hidden in the Mist Technique will give your teammates an advantage as well. They know how to work around the mist. A foreign opponent will not."

I turned my eyes to the girl sitting in contemplation.

"Aiko. You control Ice and you use senbon. Not only that, but you are the team medic. What does that mean for you?"

"I stay behind," she replied demurely.

"And use your projectiles. Weave ice release in later, because not many people know your proficiency. Not only that, but as a medic, you have to be the one to stay alive to keep your teammates alive too. You are both support and the team's last resort right now. Understood?" Why couldn't they figure it out in their own?

"Hai, Sensei."

"Haru. You are your team's front liner, and a scout when need be. Keep your opponents on their toes so Sora can catch them off guard. If you can strike them down before you have to stall, then do that. Got it?"

"I won't let you down!"

"Go eat your lunches." This time, I actually gave them their favorites. They figured out how to get along more quickly than I expected. They got their rewards. "Shigetsu. Chojuro. You two are going to be on a separate team with a new member. I don't know who that'll be. So you're not only going to have to cover each other, but an unknown as well. You won't know their skills. You're just going to have to be observant enough to not get in their way, and not let them get in yours. Now let's see…"

I sent a Tsunade punch at Shigetsu, who just barely dodged before I dropped down and swiped her legs out from underneath her. She rolled into a somersault away, and turned just enough that she could properly throw the senbon clutched in her fists.

"Shigetsu, you're good at close range combat. But that's not what you're best at. You've got poisons in your pouches and senbon in your hands. You prefer projectiles, and you're better with them, and you even have some low-level Genjutsu under your belt! You could also be a ninjutsu type with your Kekkei Genkai, but you're probably a mid-range fighter."

She scowled and threw a senbon at my neck in retaliation for my scolding.

I plucked it out of the air and discarded it off to the side.

"Chojuro. Do I need to remind you how to actually fight with Hiramekarei? I thought you were done charging in and then second guessing yourself like cannon fodder."

He crumpled in on himself, as if I had physically struck him rather than speak.

"You two, get your lunches. You'd better have this sorted out before tomorrow."

I learned how to do the "disappear in a swirl of leaves" thing, so I did that to leave the team behind.

I prayed that they would survive.

And it didn't matter if barging in during their exams would disqualify them. If Orochimaru or someone else with power started something, I would be the one to end it.

Or die trying.

But haven't I made myself as invincible as I could be in the amount of time I had?

I figured out my chakra natures, I had medic-level chakra control, I (unfortunately) had experience mowing down waves of people, I fought a Kage and Jinchuriki, I became a Jinchuriki, newsflash I also can do Fuinjutsu, I'm a Kenjutsu near-master, and I know plot. What more could I do in the amount of time I had?

'Learn sage mode?' chimed Hana.

'Actually speak to Isobu?' Was Kiriko's ever passive interest in diplomacy.

On it.

Week 2, Day 3.

The team sat in two groups.

Sora, Aiko, and Haru were huddled together, scheming.

And Chojuro sat in a meditative position while Shigetsu sat in a falsely-casual slouch, resting an elbow on a crooked knee.

She stood in front of them, her fingers tingling with chakra.

"Begin."

They lasted five minutes. That was five minutes more than last time.

"Again."

Five minutes and fifty six seconds.

"Again."

Six minutes and twenty seconds.

"Again."

Ten minutes.

"Again." "Again." "Again."

Twelve minutes and five seconds. Fifteen minutes and three seconds. Twenty two minutes.

"Again."

A half an hour.

"Again."

They won this time. It took two hours of on-and-off fighting, retreating, and so on but they did it by catching her off guard.

"Again."

They lost. They were down in an hour.

"Enough."

It was lunch time.

Week 2, Day 4.

"Again."

Explode. Catch. Cut.

"Again."

Explode. Catch. Cut.

"Again."

Bubble. Explode. Catch. Cut.

"Again."

Healed.

I looked at Aiko, who was running on pure joy, adrenaline long lost faded. The fish in her hands that she cut with a chakra scalpel was healed. It was her first. With a sigh, I pulled out my camera. She held her pose, and with the flash of a camera this moment was preserved for her forever.

"Congratulations. You've learned Shōshen. Keep practicing on your own every day, but on animals only. I'll get you started on bone healing. If you can get that within the next two days, I'll give you one last technique."

"Thank you, Sensei!"

Week 2, Day 5

Ox, snake, ram.

"Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Sora, who had a wind affinity rather than water, was able to do it after hours of hard work.

Ram.

"Hiding in Water Jutsu!" He merged with the marsh of Training Ground 2 before popping back out and spluttering. "Gross!"

With a sigh, I handed him a scroll on a wind Jutsu(Wind Cutting Technique) as promised. He did, after all, manage two stealth techniques in two days…

"Yes!"

Week 2, Day 6.

Tiger.

"Water Clone Jutsu," Shigetsu drawled. Five more of her appeared.

I have her an approving nod before water-walking onto the marsh of, once again, Training Ground 2.

Snake, ram, horse, hare, ram, horse, hare, snake, ox, and the clap of her hands.

"Water Prison Jutsu!"

And I was stuck in a sphere of water, her arm out to sustain the spinning water sphere.

Shigetsu turned her cheeky grin at me.

"Ne, Sensei, I'll let you out if you give me extra ramen tomorrow!" She jerked her chin up. Without a change in my expression, I speared a spike of coral out of the prison, ruining the carefully maintained spin of the sphere and causing it to splash harmlessly.

I didn't bother hiding my laughter at her pout.

"Win the Chunin Exams, and I'll teach you how to make a Water Dragon." I jerked my chin up in an imitation of her.

We both couldn't contain our soft giggles.

Week 2, Day 7.

Sora could make wind-bullets if needed. He had become as silent as he could be, and very good at quick and devastating attacks with his tanto.

Aiko wasn't able to heal bones without cancer forming, or an explosion, so she was banned from trying until after the exams. That also meant that she lost out in the opportunity to learn the Poison Mist technique that I reverse-engineered from Shizune, Dokugiri. However, she could heal just about any flesh wound now, and assured me that her training with the remainders of her clan had given her astounding results in Ice Techniques.

Shigetsu's sniping range went up another ten feet(~3 meters), and she could turn into water instantly whenever she wanted to.

Chojuro could stand in an all-out kenjutsu battle with me for a full seven minutes. He lost, but he wasn't the same one-shot goon he was earlier.

"We have three more days until we have to be in Konohagakure. The very next day, you all participate in the exam. We meet your last teammate tomorrow, and then we leave." Was it wrong of me to almost want them to fail the first exam to avoid Orochimaru? The other side of me was fired up, wanting them to ace all of the exams. It was a complete conflict, and burnt out much of my energy and focus. "Pack your bags with anything and everything you can. I'll be at the gate early, with scrolls that you can seal some of your supplies into."

"Thank you, Sensei," Sora bowed with a slight smile. Haru nervously echoed his teammate.

Aiko full-out tackled me into a hug. Her head only reached my ribs, but she packed enough energy into her jump to cause me to stumble.

"Thank you so much!"

I raised my hand to pack her back a couple of times, ignoring how robotically I did so.

I was never going to get used to hugs…

"Ey, Sensei," Shigetsu drawled. I looked over to her. She was chewing a senbon in her mouth, looking eerily like a certain side-character- like- like a certain person that I didn't know of too well. Shiranui Genma, or something. "I'll be ready to learn that water dragon Jutsu, so you'd better not get rid of us too quickly."

It took me a second and a blink to realize that she, though confident in her abilities, was nervous that I'd simply forget about her once the Chunin Exams passed.

I gave her a smile, trying to show her that no, I wouldn't forget her. No, I won't leave them.

I had grown attached to them.

And that didn't seem so bad…

"I'll probably be here by eight a.m. as always, but the scroll with our schedule says you can be here as late as ten. Don't be late."

I didn't know what I was expecting.

I gave everyone a sealing scroll for extra supplies. Everyone was eager to use them to relieve themselves of excess weight.

Aiko was the last to show up, actually, after Chojuro, Sora, Haru, then Shigetsu. It was odd because she was usually one of the most early. But when she came into view, she came with someone who could easily pass as her older brother.

I didn't know what I was expecting.

But Yuki Haku as Chojuro and Shigetsu's last teammate was not that.

At 10 a.m. on the dot, Zabuza appeared in a swirl of water droplets.

"I'm supposed to be their Sensei or whatever." His voice was grumbly, and scratchy, and almost entirely hostile to me. He jerked a thumb at Chojuro and Shigetsu, but didn't take his burning grey eyes off of me, looking like he was ready to straight up decapitate me.

I only hummed in response, adopting a casual cross of my arms and cock of my hip. Chojuro looked at Zabuza with hero-worship while Shigetsu's murderous glare was just as intense as his own.

"Aah, let's go."

"Hime-Chan! I didn't know that I was expecting you!" The Hokage clapped his hands gleefully, looking entirely grandfatherly. "Where is your Sensei? Are these your teammates?"

He was entirely unaware too.

"Tsunami Kiriko, Jonin Sensei of Cell 1 from Kirigakure, reporting for entry of my team." Then, my emotionless face twisted into a saccharine smile. "Hello, Hokage-Tan!"

Zabuza's hulking shoulders were shaking in silent laughter. Not that his blank gaze and toneless voice showed any of that.

"Momochi Zabuza, Jonin Sensei of Cell 2 from Kirigakure, reporting for entry of my team."

The Sandaime looked at me for a while, his fluffy aura disappearing. He finally seemed to act his place as a military dictator in that moment, observing me carefully.

I arched a brow.

"Our teams are valid. Is there any reason for delay?" I asked. Zabuza's eyes weren't sure whether to completely roll at my disrespect to a Kage or to crinkle at my guts.

"No, no reason for delay," Hiruzen spoke, placing his smoking pipe onto the table and signing some paperwork. "Enjoy your stay in Konoha, Tsunami-Hime."

Finally.

A modicum of respect.

"Ta ta, Hokage-Tan."

I didn't return it.

"Where's Chojuro-San and Shigetsu-kun?" Yuki asked me.

"With Zabuza-San," I told her. "Drink up. You don't want your tea to get cold while you eat."

Three large sets of eyes blinked before throwing back the tea, then spazzing when their throats got burned.

"Is everything alright?" An Akimichi waitress asked, waddling up to us quickly. She was not civilian, I noticed. She was the only ninja waitress(or waiter) here right now.

It made sense. That they would have a ninja be the one to serve some foreign nin, I mean.

"Yes, the barbecue here is quite delicious," I spoke softly yet with an undercurrent of "run along now."

"Maa, I didn't know you had your own team, Tsunami-Hime."

And just like that, the waitress scurried off and Kakashi of all people plopped himself into the booth that Sora, Aiko, Haru, and I occupied. The Genin went silent and still, eyes darting from me to the other Jonin.

I forced myself not to freeze, but instead languidly reach for my tea and sip.

…The tea was really good… I suppose my students were right in drinking it before it got cold by any means necessary…

"Aah, only for two weeks," I answered, keeping a pose fit for royalty.

Kakashi was one of my favorite characters. Or, now, someone I respect and admire. Once again, I found myself lamenting that he had me so tense. It would be a dream to be friends with him… with a lot of the Naruto cast, in fact.

But he was also a Shinobi from another nation, an enemy if things ever get rocky. And, presumably, sent to keep an eye on me by Hiruzen.

"You think they'll pass their first exams?" He looked at them, probably seeing kids but still slight threats.

Aiko made an effort to not get defensive over the underestimation. Sora and Haru leveled glared at the Copycat Ninja, looking more like wet kittens than the child soldiers I trained them into.

I looked at them, seeing survivors. Children that were born in this world with little hope and that I gave tools to defend their lives and memory with.

"Of course. Are yours?"

He did his classic eye-smile.

"Of course."

A/N: How did you guys like this chapter? I hope I was able to answer any questions you had from last chapter.

I'm on the fence of allowing one of the Genin to die, and then I remembered that there's no reason for me to do that. You all are lucky... probably, at least. =)

Anyway, I live to see your feedback. Comment, let me know if there's anything I can do to make this story an overall better experience. You all seemed happy with the Horse Summons... what do you think Horse Sage Mode would entail? I'd imagine that it would make Tsunami much faster than any other Sage Modes...