"... and her name was Kushina! She was a legend with a blade and seals, a master of wind and water jutsu, she would mix wind chakra into her blade and slice her enemies into nothingness. She played a massive role in our victory during the Third war as well as during the Kyuubi attack. She is actually just as responsible as the Fourth Hokage in the creature's defeat."
Kagami, moving through the Kenjutsu katas Yugao had taught him, gaped at the woman. The Style was called Dancing Moon Kenjutsu and was something the woman had mastered, alongside her lover Hayate. He loved the style, it felt more natural than the generic style he had been using before. It felt more... intentional and worked well with taijutsu. He was still ordered to practice both kenjutsu styles as the generic style was more designed to gain a sense of basics than it was anything else.
"She did, why haven't we heard of her?"
She sighed. "Sexism is a bitch. You likely haven't of Mikoto Uchiha, who was said to be just as powerful. A masterful fire and kenjutsu user, a gifted lightning and water user, she was not to be trifled with. I never understood how Itachi could kill her and Fugaku, both of whom were comparable to the Fourth Hokage in power, but alas we will never know."
Nodding, Kagami continued his Katas. "Is it really that bad?"
"Why do you think there are no female kages, so few female Jonin and chunin? We are less likely to be noticed, promoted or recorded. Our accomplishments are often ignored. It happens far more often than you realize. However, a part of that is the expectation for kunoichi to retire and have babies. Having children screws up your body, even with our healing jutsu, which drastically impedes our ability to do our jobs." She shrugged. "Life isn't fair, but that is the truth of it."
"I guess so. I don't want children, I would never willingly put children into this world, less I can somehow make it better."
She stopped, looking at him sadly. "I can understand that, from you, especially of all people. You have had a real hard time, more so than most people... I wish I could have been allowed to help, but I am afraid there were restrictions and I am very, very young as a kunoichi. I am only twenty-two right now, I was only ten when you were born. I might have been able to help, many wanted too, but after the Kyuubi attack we had to do countless missions to make up for everything. Then the Uchiha massacre and we lost so much of our jonin and chunin, Four Kage level ninja... we were unable to do much to help you. We only are just starting to settle from those two events."
He stopped. "Really.. that oddly does make me feel better, that Ru and I were not just left to the village's mercy out of a lack of care." She tried to hide it, but he saw the cringe on her face and he knew that was exactly why they were left as they were. "I can't blame you, you are far too young to hold anything against you..."
"Thank you, that does mean a lot... now... I think we should spar. You've been training for an hour, I want to see what you can do with your blade in battle. Use everything against me, come at me with the intent to kill!"
"""
"OW... ow... ow..."
Naruto, coming into his apartment, heard his brother's whining. "What's wrong?' He walked into his living room and saw his brother collapsed on the couch, covered in bruises and cuts that were slowly healing. "What happened?" He rushed over to Kagami, panicking.
His brother looked at him, something odd passing through his eyes that Naruto could not read. "I... I... new training and a really hard mission. How are you, how was training?"
"We did some stupid D ranks... babysat a few kids and pulled out weeds... when are we going to have a real mission!"
"You aren't ready for a real mission, Ru, I love you to pieces but you are far too unskilled and rarely listen to orders! That's just reality."
Naruto pouted. "I can do anything!"
"If you tried, trained, and worked at it... but enough of that, I hurt too much for this... I need to take a shower." Sighing, Kagami rose. "Naruto, if your Sensei refuses to actually teach you the basics and so on, then training yourself and become great with your own two hands... otherwise you will never get stronger."
Naruto growled at his brother and he left the room. "Not everyone is like you, Gami, not everyone can learn from scrolls and those stupid stuffy books... some of us are built differently."
"""
"You are back early, Neji!"
Kagami, two days before he was done with Team Nine, was stunned to see a Hyuuga standing in the training field looking at them coldy. "It is nice to meet you, Neji."
Neji nodded. "You must be Kagami Uzumaki, Tenten told me about you."
"All good I hope."
"Yes, in fact, it was all good. Anyway, I am back on my Team, there is no need for you to stay any longer."
Sighing, he nodded, turning to Guy. "Can I stay for the day at least?"
Guy exploded with Youth. "Of course, you can, my friend! You are as youthful as one can be!"
"Thank you, I won't get in your way, I promise." What he did not say, but thought, was a deep sigh followed by. 'That was fun while it lasted, at least I'll get training with Guy and Lee in the mornings. Can't complain about that.' Feining a smile, he turned to Neji. "Care to spar? I hear you are a great Taijutsu user!"
The boy shook his head. "I would rather my skill not spread, until the Chunin exams. That way I am able to keep the element of surprise."
"Ah, well one day at least."
"One day."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a lot of fun.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.