Author's Note: Thank you to all who follows and the two reviewers that gave me the motivation for a slight change to the plot. I love it! This is mainly just a snapshot and with a stirring of plot at the end. I want to actually explore the politics of the Warring States period in more depths by the research I do on Feudal Japan. Hopefully, it goes well! Fingers Crossed!

Three Years Later

Uzumaki Sayuri groaned as she fell into the water again. A masculine laugh followed her down as her red hair stuck to her face. She coughed up water and spit it out as she glared at her Uncle's laughing face. The fisher boats continued to go out to catch fish and she was training to be a Kunoichi. Failing terribly at chakra control like a newborn bird. "Uncle Haru," she cried out as she pushed her hair back. She was drenched in sea water and shivering from the wet clothes. "Quit laughing at me!" Her foot stomped the ground as her face lit up red from her adventures the last couple of weeks.

She wanted to be a Kunoichi. She know she did but this was hard. Uncle Haru and Papa both ran her till she was so tired. Mito watched her crawl into bed exhausted from every day running. "Chin up, Sayuri," Haru called cheerfully with his eyes closed with his smile. "I know chakra control is hard with our reserves but you can do this." The red haired man with blue eyes was one of her favorite people in the clan house they had. Next to her Grandfather, Ashina, who always brought her sweets when he could. She shivered as her arms wrapped around her small body from the salt water air that came off the ocean. She had turned seven three weeks ago and her father quickly set a training regimen for her. Her uncle filling in as needed to train her up.

She nodded and turned to the small currents as they lapped at the beach. She just needed to focus on matching her chakra to the push and pull of the ocean. "Our chakra is massive," Haru called with the sun reflecting off his smile and blue eyes. "To control it can restrict you using too much. If you manage to hold it for a couple seconds I will show you how to throw kunai." As bribes went it was a good one. Sayuri knew she had eleven years to become a powerful Kunoichi. To learn how to use every art an Uzumaki could to impress her future husband.

It caused tension between Momma and Papa because her future husband was an Uchiha. The powerful clan were obsessed with strength and power. A red sandled foot moved towards the calm current. The chakra was sluggish to respond but she closed her eyes to focus. She had to coat her foot and match it to the water. The feeling of cold and water faded as she felt it hold her weight in a wobbly way. She ignored the sounds of the ocean and the call of the birds. The sound of the nets faded to nothing as her wet hair tickled her face. Her left foot raised and she focused on the direction of her chakra. The waves pulled and pushed and she just had to match it. Her eyes opened as she saw her self out past the beach. Her Uncle's proud smile made her cheer. "Uncle Haru I did i-" her call was cut off by herself pulled into the currents.

Salt water burned her eyes and even under the water she heard her Uncle laughing loudly. "Blech," she hissed as her sandled feet hit the mud under the water. The dark robed form of her Uncle was all but on the sand as he laughed at her. A pout hit her lips as she stomped her foot in the mud. Her face becoming as red as their hair. The sun shined on as she trudged out of the ocean a little more waterlogged than before. "Quit laughing, Uncle Haru!" Her voice was childish and adorable. The man continued to laugh even as his wet niece threw herself at him.

One Year Later

Sayuri watched her older sister with a concentration as she moved the brush across the paper. A scowl decorated her face as the brush moved with graceful strokes. "This is the element of water," her sister spoke with a soft smile. Sayuri could already tell that Mito had the personality of their mother while she was too excitable like her father. "Think you can do this?" The paper and brush was handed to her and her lips scowled again at it.

"I hate learning calligraphy," her voice muttered and Mito laughed. Even though she was three years older than her she could see the graceful power Mito would wield. She was being trained in sealing arts and had agreed to train her in the beginning stages of Fuinjutsu. Uncle Haru, Papa, and Grandpa had to go fight with the Senju leaving them alone with their mothers. "Why don't women go to war, Mito?" She asked softly as her head tilted. "Papa is training me to fight."

"To the Uzumaki females are valued," Mito explained with a tilted head. Bright red hair fell from her graceful clip to dangle in her face. Mito was no longer a child like her and was approaching her teenage years. When Mito reached eighteen she would be married to a Senju heir named Hashirama. While her father set her up to marry the second son of the Senju's greatest enemy. They might have to fight each other than.

"What about to the Senju?" She asked her voice riddled with anxiety. She was smart enough to catch on now no matter what they said. Or what they thought. Mito's dark eyes looked at her curiously before an odd emotion took their place.

"You are afraid you will have to fight me one day?" Mito asked and Sayuri felt water pool in her eyes. "You figured this out already Sayuri?" She nodded and Mito made a noise at seeing her tears much like Momma. The arms of her sister were not that strong but she leaned into the touch with a smile. Though tears still slipped down from purple eyes. "Shhh it will be alright," Her older sister said as she rocked her. "The Senju don't believe in female fighters either. You won't face me in battle, little Sister. It will be alright. Dad has a plan remember?"

The smirk on her sister's face and the wiping of tears made her nod. A smile trying to twist up her lips. "You are smart, Sayuri," Mito said as fingers ran through her hair that had started to grow past her shoulders. She did not know why it was kept short in childhood but when trained it grew longer. To be held back in clips and ties along with the piercing of their ears. Clan traditions that were followed by every Uzumaki. "Eight years old and already knowing politics," Mito teased. "Perhaps you should have been heir." A tease that made her release a watery chuckle.

"Then I would have to marry the Senju," she said and stuck her tongue out in distaste. "And not learn to fight like a male. I like it, you know!" Mito only smiled and used the sleeve of her kimono to wipe up her tears. The remnants of her crying faded as she gave a big smile. Though her heart ached at the thought of watching her sister leave her. "I am going to be the strongest Kunoichi of our clan!" She added and looked at the paper as Mito pulled it closer.

"To do that you must learn calligraphy," she chided with a soft smile. Sayuri flushed as shaky fingers picked up the brush. The skill of her brush strokes was not as graceful as her sister. Mito's encouraging smile was all she needed as she worked on the paper.

"Mito," their mother called from downstairs. "Sayuri come to supper!" Sayuri felt her stomach growl loudly before both sisters burst out into a loud smile. The chuckles almost unladylike and rough for the two daughters of the Uzumaki Clan head. Mito's answering smile warmed her heart though she knew she would miss her sister once she was married.

Couple Years Later

Uzumaki Sayuri stared at her father with a frown as he stood in front of her with an easy going smile. His long red hair slipped back as her own hair started to mirror him. A mark of adulthood according to the tradition of their clan. She was thirteen now and had started to learn more of her Clan's arts. Enough that she was skilled enough to survive in most situations. Helping civilians under their protection and hunting wild animals. Helping innocents escape from a rampaging tailed beast at one point. Grandfather had her helping along with the Senju who had also come to help.

That was the first time Mito had met her future husband before their marriage. "Does mother know about this?" She asked her father with piercing purple eyes and a dry humor that was all Yamato. They stood outside a village that would again serve as neutral meeting ground. Her father had quickly grabbed her as she came back from one of the assignments most shinobi children had to take. All red heads and loud as they protected the fishermen on the boats. The smell of salt water sometimes drifted up this far in land if she paid enough attention to it.

Yamato's dark eyes were slightly sheepish in some regard but his answer was a wide smile. "The Uchiha want to have you and Izuna meet before your marriage," her father explained as his back stretched in an obvious show of relaxation. Though she could feel his chakra expanding outwards primed to take down any threat stupid enough to attack an Uzumaki. This close to the misty land of the south was concerning enough even with them well equipped to handle the water. "Or perhaps it's more apt to say the Uchiha elders want to observe you," he added with an uncaring shrug.

"And if they back out of the treaty?" She asked as her voice raised slightly in alarm. The next quiet footstep of her father paused as dark eyes met her own. His face a picture of calm even if his normal smile was gone.

"Then that will be alright," Yamato stated as he kneeled by her. Her purple eyes resting on her father as her teeth worried her lower lip. "Sayuri if the Uchiha back out of the deal it will be alright," he said as his calloused hand rested on her own red robes and armor. Even children and teenagers trained in combat had to be prepared. Her father's chakra was sweeping around them to sense or hear any interloper. "You will be free to marry whoever you like," he added with a supportive smile. "I promise." The heavy and comforting hand on her shoulder shifted to push back the bright red bangs that graced her cheeks.

She was still filled with the fat of childhood and the body barely growing into adulthood. Mito had already bloomed into a beautiful woman who never had to learn as much combat as she did. It felt awkward not being happy with where she was. Being so unsure and meek did not suit an Uzumaki. "I want to make the clan proud, Papa," she whispered as she bit back the emotions making her throat choke up. The smile her father sent her was small but supportive.

"I am proud of you either way, little flower," he responded softly as warm lips kissed her forehead. "Now chin up. We are the hurricane after all. We cannot disappoint you know." She nodded and as she walked through the foggy land she wiped up her eyes. Though they burned she would not cry. She was going to be a strong Kunoichi and make her clan proud. The feel of the Uchiha Clan waiting for them was a brimming fire. They burned in the foggy land. Yamato stood straighter as he approached the armored man who dressed in black. The red and white fan an obvious marking of their life.

Two older men stood by the man who was obviously the clan leader of the Uchiha. Black eyes went from her father until they rested on her. She stood still and resisted the urge to squirm at the piercing gaze. A boy around her age stood wearing dark blue kimono with a blade on his back. His hair was long and spiky as he glared at her. His dark eyes alight in distaste as he glared up at his father. "Yamato," the clan leader said as he bowed his head very lightly.

"Tajima," her father greeted with the same even tone and bow. They were two clan leaders of respective strength. "My daughter, Sayuri." The hand waved to her and the black eyes fell on her with sharper intensity. As if they were checking her worth and she fell short. She hated the feeling but her body moved into a stiff bow. The stares remained impassive and she feared she did not bow too deeply to show respect. Or did she bow too much and show weakness? Her purple eyes rested on the boy her age who glared more at her.

Unlike the cool impassivity of his father and elders he was actively irritated by her. She could tell and her fingers bit into the palm of her hands as she focused on breathing and staying by her father. The Uchiha made no sign that they did not want to continue the treaty. "Izuna," Tajima grunted out and pressed his youngest son forward with a tight hand on his shoulder. The bow of the boy was barely an incline of his head. The disrespect was obvious though her father and his barely reacted. The boy was obviously not interested in marrying her.

Unlike Tajima, her father's hand on her shoulder was to comfort. Black eyes never left her own though as his glare remained. His lips pulled down into a sneer at his future bride.