As we progressed to our third year in academy, and I turned seven, the tensions between the nations grew to a point that whispers of war started going round the village. I was aware that the Second Great Shinobi war occurred vaguely around the time Minato was a genin, so there was still year or two before shit hit the fan, unless of course, Minato had graduated early in the manga. Considering his grades, and the political situation, it wouldn't be that much of a stretch.

The approaching war had brought on a sense of urgency and maturity in the academy students. They didn't goof off anymore because they knew that their lives would soon depend on what they learn at the academy. It felt wrong, seeing eight years old going into survival mode. Something was really wrong with the shinobi system that even children didn't feel safe enough to enjoy their childhoods.

It wasn't something I could change, though. What I could do was focus on getting stronger. Because this wasn't a world where the inteligent or charismatic people brought change, it was only the strongest who changed things. Look at Hashirama and Madara, the strongest shinobi of their generation or perhaps of all time. They were the ones that brought an end to the Warring Clan's Era. Granted their plans for peace didn't exactly work out, but it was still change. I had to get to their level if I intended to change things around here.

I was making good progress. The academy course in the third year had advanced to include ninjutsu, and I was the uncontested holder of the first rank in class in that department, despite Minato's faster hand seals. There was no way he could compete with me in ninjutsu when I knew my chakra inside out. With a few weeks of practice, I even managed to perform the Kawirami, Henge and Bunshin seallessly, making the speed of my hand signs obsolete. I understood that the academy three were E rank jutsu and there was no way that I'll be able to perform higher rankings jutsu seallessly, therefore I doubled down on the practice of hand seals. Shikaku got quite annoyed when I continued doing it whilst playing shofi with him.

It had been three years since I had started learning fuinjutsu. I was nowhere near Minato or Kushina's level, who were both capable of inventing seals, but I knew seals, quite a lot of them. I had understood early on thar fuinjutsu wasn't something I was going to excel in, therefore I had more time memorizing seals than I had learning how they worked. Mito-sama had seen what I was doing and didn't correct me, because, with my chakra control, I could become formidable with only those few memorized seals if I learnt to apply them on touch.

I took it a bit farther than that. With my natural talent at the shadow manipulation technique of the Nara clan, I started experimenting to apply seals through my shadows, which meant learning to channel chakra through the shadows.

It had never been done before. The Nara had always used the shadows as an extension of their chakra but never went beyond that, perhaps because of the temptation of losing themselves in the shadows. But, despite outo-san's warning, I decided to give it a try.

It was difficult, but because of having such a thorough understanding and control over my own chakra, I was able to distinguish between myself and the shadow. It was a thin line, all too easy to cross, if I wasn't careful in channeling the chakra through small pathways. It required meditation and further chakra control excercises, because even near perfect chakra control wasn't enough for it. It required absolutely perfect chakra control. It required hours and hours of work for weeks and months.

Meanwhile, the shadows were tempting. I understood how easy it would be to just lose control and let the shadow win my battles for me. The shadow was powerful, and more importantly it was everywhere. It would grant me the level of power I was hoping to achieve. If Outo-san hadn't warned me about the consequences, I might even have given in. But I knew that I needed the power for a purpose. It would be no use to lose myself to get power and forgot about the purpose. So, the slow and steady way it was.

It took a year and perfect chakra control to the decimal, but finally, I was able to channel chakra though my shadows. After that, it was the same principle as applying seals with hands.

There was a gleam in Mito-sama's eyes when I placed an explosive seal on a tree stump using my shadow. The old lady actually giggled when the stump exploded into a thousand pieces.

"I knew there was something special about you when I met you, Mishika-chan." She said, patting my shoulder. "It's nice to be proven right."

I won't deny that my heart swelled several sizes bigger at that compliment.

"You're worried about another war, aren't you?" She suddenly asked, scrutinizing me carefully.

"Yes." I admitted. "It seems inevitable now."

"Hmm. It broke Hashirama's heart when the War started between the ninja villages, after all he had done to prevent it. Especially, when the jinchuriki were used on the battlefield." She said, holding her hand over her stomach. "I had offered to fight for Konoha. Kyuubi is the strongest bijuu, after all."

I widened my eyes at an S rank secret spoken so casually.

"Oh, don't make that face. I know you've been aware of my status for quite a while. I don't know how but I've seen you look towards my stomach when I was explaining chakra containing seals." Mito-sama admonished. "Hashirama didn't let me fight. Tobirama provided me the same courtesy after his brother's death. Kushina-chan is to be my heir and she wouldn't have that privilege."

"She'd be a weapon." I agreed.

"Every shinobi is a weapon." Mito-sama corrected, gravelly. "She'd be a weapon of mass destruction. Don't let her be so, Mishika. The Kyuubi can only be controlled if you fill your heart with love. Don't let her be consumed by hate."

"I won't." I promised somberly, looking her in the eye.

Mito-sama smiled. "I knew I could count on you. I wish had more time with you, with all of you. You're such good children."

I wished I could say that she'd have a long time with us, but it'd be a lie. I knew that the time was coming. Mito-sama was old. It'd be foolish to wait for her natural death and risk the Kyuubi getting released, especially with war on the horizon. It wouldn't be long till the biju us transferred to Kushina leading to Mito-sama's death.

I felt moisture on my cheek and realised that I was crying. "How long?" I asked, my voice breaking.

"Not too long now. Perhaps another month. I've asked Tsunade to come back to Konoha and stay with me for a while." She sighed. "Nawaki would be happy to see her."

That was an understatement. Senju Nawaki's hero worship for his sister rivalled that of pre-massacre Sasuke. He hated me on principle because according to him I was copying his Nee-sama's techniques and I was allowed to do so because I wasn't awesome enough. He was a brat through and through, and he hadn't even started going to the academy yet.

"He wouldn't be happy when you're dead." I countered, bluntly.

"He'll be fine. The Senju are a resilient bunch. Besides, Tsunade will take care of him." Mito-sama replied.

"Tsunade won't have the time to take care of him when the war begins." I knew I was being stubborn. "Sensei, isn't there any way..."

"There isn't. Even if there was, it wouldn't do any good for me. I'm a very old woman, Mishika-chan, well past my prime. Do not grieve so much for me, especially when I'm still alive." She said, wiping my tears, gently. "Try to find a way for Kushina-chan with that big brain of yours, if you could."

I snorted, wetly. "You know I'm no good at fuinjutsu."

"I'm not asking you to use fuinjutsu, dear. I'm asking you to use your big brain. From what I've seen, you're very good at that."