I don't own Naruto

Chapter 2

Laying on a surface that most definitely was not her bed, Naruko slowly opened her eyes. Looking at what she lay on, she was surprised to see it was the ground, dirty, hard and in the middle of nowhere. The blonde slowly got up, her eyes adjusting to the blinding sunlight that she was currently bathing in.

What the hell happened? Last thing I remember was fighting Mizuki and then… nothing. Naruko's mind was blank as to how or why she was where she was. Where even am I anyway?

The Uzumaki was now fully awake as the panic started to settle in of what was going on. Around her all that Naruko could see were trees. Lots and lots of trees and nothing stuck out to Naruko to indicate where she was. As she began to walk pain shot to her arm. Remembering the previous day where the Kanji had felt like it was burned into her skin, Naruko quickly rolled up her sleeve to reveal the Kanji.

TIME

"Ah!"

She let out a short and sharp yelp at the burning sensation on her arm. It was glowing red for a moment and then faded back to the black that it had looked like before.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew past and Naruko felt a chill run down her spine. Despite the extreme heat she was in, this was what caused Naruko to realise something. She didn't have her jacket and that could cause problems if it rained later.

Well I suppose I should find a vantage point to see if I recognise anything.

With this thought in mind Naruko raced off to a mountain that she could see not too far into the distance. It looked like the Hokage monument if it didn't have the faces.

A short while later Naruko found herself at the bottom of it and looking up, it was a lot more intimidating to climb then she thought it would be. Before she started climbing, Naruko gulped loudly. Finding a foothold, Naruko began her climb. She continued to do this and found it to be quite fun. The only thing that she needed to do was not look down. It wasn't that Naruko was scared of heights, far from it. However climbing up a flat sided mountain was enough to make anybody nervous and if she realised how high she was it would likely lead to her panicking.

About an hour after she started Naruko started to feel fatigued. Her hands were sore from constantly grasping at the stones that came out from the mountain face slightly; she was slowly reaching her limit. Her feet felt like they were going to fall off. NO! I'm nearly there, I'll climb this mountain for sure dattebayo! Naruko hardened her resolve and continued to climb with new found determination.

This lasted for about fifteen minutes, after which time her body was screaming at her to quit. The blonde was capable of running for hours and probably had more stamina then everyone she knew combined. Despite this it didn't mean that she had the physicality to pull herself up a mountain with the strength in her arms and legs alone.

The peak of the mountain was close however and Naruko knew she only had to last a little longer and she would succeed in her endeavours. Taking a deep breath, she continued on to the final stretch.

Just a little longer. Only a little longer and I'll have done it. The girl gritted her teeth, holding back a shout in determination. Her right hand grasped the top, quickly followed by her left hand. Pulling herself up, Naruko had finally managed to climb it.

"Phew," she said as she wiped a bead of sweat off of her forehead.

CRACK

"What?"

Looking down Naruko saw that a crack had formed and she was in the centre of where the crack was forming around. Before she could react the ground below her began to fall.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH-"

Throwing her hand out at air, praying for something to be there for her to grab onto, Naruko felt dread shoot through her spine. She felt sick as she could see her oncoming demise below her.

"-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH"

An arm grabbed her own and pulled her up, flinging her onto the safe ground on top.

Naruko hit the ground with a thud and tears were now falling from her eyes. She had been seconds away from her death, the girl was sure.

"Hey are you alright," a voice asked. Looking up Naruko could see the eyes of her saviour. They were dark and Naruko could distinctly remember someone with the exact same eyes.

"Sasuke?"

"Hey are you alright," the boy repeated. Now that Naruko had a moment to think she could see clear differences between this boy and Sasuke. His hair was more frantic and he was wearing a kimono which was far older fashioned than anything Sasuke wore.

"Ye-yes I'm fine," Naruko stuttered out, still not completely over dying.

"What's your name," the boy asked.

"Na-Naruko," she managed to say.

"Hey why don't you take a breath and get your thoughts together. I'm Madara and that's Hashirama," Madara said before pointing towards another boy who had stood up in the panic that had occurred.

Madara and Hashirama? Why do those names sound familiar? Where the hell am I and why are they dressed so old fashioned.

"Hey are you alright you were just blanking out for a moment," Madara questioned.

"Oh I'm sorry," Naruko whispered shyly. "Sorry did you say something," Naruko asked.

"I asked why you were climbing up this mountain," the boy smiled. "It's dangerous."

All of a sudden Naruko let go of her thoughts which all felt more extreme thanks to her heightened emotions. "I'm lost and I don't know where I am or what to do and I nearly died and-and-"Naruko began to sob by the end.

"Hey where are you from," Hashirama asked, injecting himself into the conversation as he could see she was upset.

"I'm from the leaf," Naruko stated.

"The leaf? Where the hells that," both Madara and Hashirama stated.

"I don't know that's why I climbed this mountain," Naruko said pointedly. I hoped that I would find a vantage point and could see it."

"I guess that makes sense," Hashirama stated.

"When were you last there," Madara questioned.

"Yesterday I think," answered Naruko. Has it been longer than that? Did I miss the genin team announcements? Naruko felt tears begin to well up in her eyes again as she thought on everything she had worked so hard for and what she might have missed.

"Hey don't cry," Madara tried to console her but found that he was terrible at it. He didn't know what to say or how he was supposed to act in these situations.

"Hey how about you stay here," Hashirama suggested. "We can help build you a temporary shelter while we both ask about where 'the leaf' is."

"Yeah that's a great idea," Madara added. "I'm sure it'll only be a little bit of time and then we can help you find your home."

"You'd do that for me," Naruko whispered. She struggled to trust strangers due to the fact that other than the Ichirakus she couldn't remember a stranger who hadn't looked at her positively.

"Sure we will," both said at the same time. Afterwards a look passed between the two and Naruko wasn't sure what it was. It left just as fast as it appeared however.

"Thank you," Naruko said as she bowed her head in respect. She wasn't taught proper etiquette as a child but even she knew that she should be polite if someone offered help to her.

"Okay let's get started then," Hashirama said excitedly.

After that the three of them found branched from trees and big leaves and built Naruko a shelter. It was on top of the mountain and in building it with the both of them, Naruko felt herself grow closer to the two of them.

"Hey Naruko, how old are you," Madara asked.

"I'm twelve," Naruko said with a grin on her face. The girls smile was contagious and Madara and Hashirama found themselves joining in Naruko's joy with similar smiles of her own.

"That's the same age as us. What do you want to do, when you're older," Hashirama asked.

"I'm gonna be a ninja," Naruko boldly stated.

"A NINJA," both Madara and Hashirama exclaimed in shock.

"Yeah, and I'll be the strongest ever!"

"Well then why don't you practise with me and Hashirama? We're both trying to get stronger to protect the people we love."

"The people you love," Naruko asked whilst tilting her head in confusion.

"Wait Naruko why are you surprised at that," Hashirama asked in equal confusion to Naruko.

"Hashirama don't be so blunt," Madara said in a scolding tone.

"I'm sorry but I guess I've never 'loved' anyone. I've been close with a few people but the majority of people don't like me in the leaf."

"You've never had love," both Madara and Hashirama asked before they turned away from her in slight embarrassment. They hadn't meant it to come out the way it did.

"Not that I can think of," Naruko said with a small smile, one of acknowledgment instead of joy. "I would like to train with you two though, if that's okay?"

"Of course," both the boys said quickly.

"I need to go now," Madara stated as he saw that the sun was beginning to set.

"Yeah me too," Hashirama stated.

"Will I see you two again," Naruko asked.

"Of course you will. We'll both be here tomorrow so you don't have to worry about it."

"We have to practise together after all," Hashirama smiled at her. It was warm and Naruko felt that despite her confusion she could be happy with these two even if it was just a dream.

The next day came around and Naruko was both delighted and distraught to learn that she was still in the middle of nowhere. She had slept in late because of how tired she was from the previous day that both Madara and Hashirama had woken her up.

Getting up and out of her bed all three of them began their training. They mostly focused on taijutsu and Naruko had never felt as outmatched as she did here, even when she fought against Sasuke it had never felt so one sided.

"Hey Naruko don't worry about it. We've both probably been trained since young due to the era we live in. You're amazing for a beginner," Madara reassured her.

"Yeah Naruko you don't have to worry about anything," Hashirama added.

"Tha-thanks you two," Naruko said shyly.

All three continued to practise and Naruko would look at Hashirama and Madara'a attacks and adapt to them. She barely had to see it once and she would be able to avoid it in the future. On the first day of the training it didn't do her much help, besides she was far too slow to do anything about it.

However on the days that they didn't turn up Naruko still practised. The girl had made a harness from a rope that Hashirama had brought with him when he also brought a lot of hay. He did this so that Naruko had something more comfortable then the ground to lie on. With the rope the orange clothed ninja created a harness for her and she would then climb the mountain from the bottom. It was hard on her body but its benefits far outweighed how much Naruko disliked doing it. Her arms and legs felt stronger and her attacks had more power.

Madara and Hashirama both pointed out flaws in Naruko's taijutsu, stating that it would get her killed if she fought like that in a battle. They showed her the proper way to do things and Naruko took their criticisms and improvements for her in stride.

Every day she practised the forms as well as more subtly making shadow clones. She wanted to surprise Madara and Hashirama with her strongest jutsu and so if she could use her shadow clones without alerting her opponents then that would give her the slight advantage that she might need to gain a victory.

Slowly but surely as weeks passed Naruko could feel herself catching up to them. On one of the days Madara brought up a question that brought Naruko great confusion.

"Hey Naruko I know I've never asked but your clothes are totally different than normal ones and I've only ever seen you wear the same ones.

"That's because I only have these clothes. I wash them every time after you leave along with my underwear and spend most of my time nude," Naruko said with a slight smirk.

Madara and Hashirama both felt like their faces had been set on fire, they went redder then they ever had. Images of a naked Naruko entered their minds and they tried to think of anything else to get their thoughts off of her but it wasn't working.

"Honestly you two, I'm disappointed. I thought you'd be better than that," Naruko said in a patronizing voice.

"I'm sorry Naruko," both the boys said whilst bowing their heads. The girl simply laughed aloud, a full hearted laugh and for Madara and Hashirama it was the most beautiful thing that they had ever seen.

"Well anyway, should we continue," Naruko suggested before they got on with their training.

Despite not noticing at the time there was a slight shift in Madara and Hashiramas behaviour after that conversation. The next time they met up they both had dresses for Naruko. Each of them had talked to the other and they said that they would have their clan make clothes for Naruko. All of the clothes were orange kimono's that would likely stop at her mid-thigh. They looked the same and due to the closeness between Madara and Hashiramas clans the materials that were used were the same as well. There were only subtle differences between them but they knew that Naruko needed clothes.

"Hey Naruko we both decided to get you something," Madara began.

"Since you said you only have those clothes we assumed it would be okay to get you some more," Hashirama stated as he handed her six dresses, three from each of the boys.

"You two," Naruko said and whilst she hadn't cried since meeting both of the boys she still felt pathetic at the fact that tears seemed ready to fall down her face. She couldn't help it, the girl had never received such a personal gift before and at that moment it cemented it for her that Madara and Hashirama were her most precious people. "Thank you so much," she laughed as she jumped into both of them, embracing them in a tight hug. Both boys just hugged back twice as hard.

After training some more the three of them found themselves sitting with their legs dangling down over the mountain.

"Hey Madara, Naruko, right there is where I want to build a village. It'll be a place where children won't be sent to do and people will be able to grow up. What do you think?"

"It'd be great. There's too much bloodshed in today's world and if the village is the way to peace then it'd be great."

"It sounds amazing," Naruko said. While she was sat in the middle of them Naruko couldn't help but feel like she was watching the two of them from behind. I don't belong here Naruko thought. This is the period of the warring clans and I'm currently supposed to be living in modern day Konoha. "Both of you need to promise me something. No matter what might happen you'll make your dream a reality."

"What are you talking about Naruko you'll be completing the dream with us," Madara stated as if it was fact.

"Yes and Naruko will be the leader of the village whilst me and Madara will protect you," Hashirama said with a smile.

"I wouldn't mind that too much," Madara said in addition to what Hashirama had said. "You'd make a great leader Naruko. You're kind and compassionate. You possess a different strength to me and Hashirama, a more powerful one."

"I want you to promise me anyway. No matter what happens, you'll make our dream come true. I've no doubt in my mind that both of you are the most precious people in my life."

They continued to stare into the sunset and all three of them decided to stay on that mountain that night, and for Naruko it was the happiest day of her life. They built a camp fire and spoke of their dreams. Naruko had been the last of them to fall asleep and a content smile graced her face as she did so.

Waking up the following morning Hashirama and Madara had already left and Naruko for some strange reason felt like something bad was going to happen. She put one of the dresses that had been given to her as a present on. Putting everything else into a bag that Madara had gifted her a different time Naruko began to descend the mountain.

Giving her a moment to look into her reflection in the water Naruko felt stunned. She'd never enjoyed her own appearance that much. The glares from the villagers often made her uncomfortable in her own skin. Meeting Hashirama and Madara had been the single greatest thing to ever happen to her and it had built her confidence up. Not her fake confidence she fronted in front of everyone else to make the hurt she felt at her treatment but a real confidence.

She felt beautiful, for the first time in her life. Her hair shone brightly in the sun, her face tanned from constantly being in the sun. Her arms had a good amount of muscle without looking too bulky and her legs were strong but still shapely enough.

It was only a moment she gave herself though as she raced off in a direction. For one reason or another Naruko knew exactly where to go. Pushing herself harder than she had ever before, Naruko felt herself moving faster than she ever had in her entire life. Wind rushed through her hair and leaves swayed as she ran by but Naruko didn't have the time to enjoy the pleasantries of just running. She knew something was happening and as she got closer she could hear fighting.

Breaking out of the forest and into a clearing Naruko saw both Hashirama and Madara. With them were their families and they had obviously just been fighting.

Naruko took a look at Madara and saw his eyes were red with a strange pattern on them. Both sides looked prepared to fight again and before Madara could open her mouth Naruko had to make her heard.

"STOP IT!"

The only response Naruko got was silence. Everyone's eyes were on her and Naruko was panting, a little bit out of breath at the fact that she'd just run faster than she ever had and she didn't know how far.

"Naruko," both Madara and Hashirama exclaimed in shock.

"PLEASE STOP FIGHTING. WHAT ABOUT OUR DREAM FOR PEACE!"

Hashirama and Madara both looked down in shame.

"I'm sorry Naruko, but that was nothing more than a childish dream. We have to grow up. Hashirama is a Senju and I'm an Uchiha. It could never work Naruko, I'm sorry."

Naruko didn't understand what was happening to her body but she felt herself lose strength as she collapsed into the floor. The girl could hear murmurs from both clans; they were likely asking Madara and Hashirama who they were.

Strength was rapidly leaving Naruko's body and she could feel herself grow faint.

"But we promised didn't we?"

After saying this Naruko disappeared as if she had never been there. None of them could see but the kanji on her arm began to burn red again. Naruko faded away, her heart broken by her two best friends.

"NARUKO!"

Okay that's another chapter done. Please review and tell me what you think. I hope it doesn't feel too rushed but I don't feel that there was a lot more to cover from children Madara and Hashirama. Also there will probably be references to Naruko's time with them.

The next chapter will be back in Naruko's real time.

Thanks for reading