"I see you've taken Naruto under your wing." You can't help but smile as you pictured the young genin.

"Well, Hiruzen." You took a long deep breath calming your nerves. "I can't help it." Drawing another sigh "He reminds me a lot of Hashirama's kind and pure soul."

"Train him, sensei." Came his abrupt reply. " Stay here in the village." He tried to persuade you, again. "Teach the young shinobis the true will of fire. I'm sure that's what Tobirama-sensei would have wante... " He stopped as an all too familiar emotion appeared on your face. He couldn't help it, that look took him back; the moment he told you about the fate of Tobirama Senju - your husband. The love of your life.

"Pardon."

"It can't be helped." You gave the Hokage a reassuring smile as you took in how much the Kage's office had changed each time you came and went, et voila - eyes landing on the picture of your late husband, Tobirama Senju, reaching up to touch his image.

"This is what he's always wanted for me."

It was a day like any other - you were dressed as you were whenever you're out in the woods, a long black hood-coat barely stopping at your shin, the perfect garb to hide your face, platinum blonde hair tucked neatly in the hood.

"Kuchiyose" You whispered softly, smearing the blood from your lips on the ground before you - smoke materializing in front of you.

"Mistress." A medium size saber-tooth called.

"Are you ready, Akemi?"

"As ready as you are, Mistress" Nodding, you smeared another trail of blood on the ground.

"Ninbyo." You whispered again - palm touching the ground as smoke started to take shape.

"Mistress! Get behind us!" A small cat landed on your shoulder while the others started to form a circle. Akemi roared as loud as she could making you weak on your knees. Silence. Then you felt it. Another presence stood five trees ahead of you. A man stood out of the shadows, his hands raised - hair stood at the back of your felines as they glared at the man.

"He's not from around here." Momo, the small tabby cat whispered in your ear. "He's very strong but I cannot sense any hostility, still, we should still be on guard." You nodded, your eyes never leaving the figure before you. A tall fair skinned man with shaggy gray hair, his eyes were red and on his face were three distinct red markings.

"Who… who are you?" You asked - voice trembling. "You're not from around here, who are you?" You pried more confidently careful not to show your face.

"Pardon." He interjected, your felines started sizing sizing him up, remembering his smell. "I can't help but notice, you're the only chakra present in this village." He retorted.

"Chakra?" You asked curiously.

"Interesting." He looked pointedly at Akemi and the other felines; his eyes full of wonders. "Who and what are they?" The said man asked bluntly.

"I asked you a question." You insisted.

"I'm a visitor." The man looked at you scrutinizingly, his presence overbearing, his attention taking in your figure.

"Mistress, they're looking for you." A sand cat ran towards your location. You trembled as you started to collect yourself, running towards the opening of the forest - leaving the puzzled man behind.

Tobirama Senju couldn't believe his luck when his brother the Hokage of Konohagakure pulled him out from a dire situation - sending him and some other clan heads on a mission to settle an arrangement to strengthen the friendship between his newly established village and an old ally of Butsuma Senju called Yutakana kuni - a five day travel from his beloved home. Quite frankly, he didn't know what to get from this alliance aside from retaining an old friend, as his brother had told him, 'Yutakana kuni doesn't have shinobi forces and avoided having so after the great war. But the sheer wealth and resources could help support Konohagakure as it builds itself.'

"Senju, Tobirama of the Konohagakure." A guard on duty at an unusually large gate called out towards his group. "The Leader has been waiting for your arrival." He nodded as the man led them towards another large and very old gated castle. "Please wait here." The guard said as he went on inside a room with a very large double door.

"Senju!" A loud voice boomed as the door opened the guard coaxing them in. "My, my…. I never thought I'd meet you again, Tobirama!" Came another shout.

'Oota, Kenichirou.' He thought as he looked at the man six years his senior. 'He has grown larger than the last time'. Platinum blonde hair tied neatly at his nape - Creole eyes still as fierce as it was during the last great war.

"How is Konohagakure? It's a shame Hashirama cannot join us. It's been a while my old friend." Oota gestured for his caravan to come in - with them he thought would be the nation's council.

"The Senjus' has been a very old and good ally to the Oota clan. You are always welcome in my land. I know it took a while, let's discuss all that matters after you are well rested. My first born will show you to your quarters."

"Senju-sama, my father told me a lot about his war time with you. I can assign guards to escort you around if you want to."

"Thank you. I prefer to rest." He gave the leader's son a final nod as he closed the door to his chamber. This land is something new. A break from stress and turmoil of sensing every chakra around him. Here, his chakra sensor is put to rest - even Kenichirou's ocean-like chakra pool is not present. He could rest.

And then he felt it. A faint wave of chakra. 'Tsk! A small amount of chakra wouldn't hurt anyo...'He stopped as he now felt a larger amount being used. Following the source, he transported himself into the woods - a hooded figure kneeling down on the ground, five large felines circling around and two tabbies. 'Interesting.' He thought.

"Mistress! Get behind us!" The small tabby shouted, five large felines started towards him.

"Who… who are you?" Her voice trembling.

'A girl.' He thought, not older than seventeen he estimated as he took in her form; her chakra fluctuating from miniature amount to pint size. "I can't help but notice yours is the only chakra present in this village." He stated matter of factly.

"Chakra?"

"What are those?"

"I asked you a question!" He didn't get to answer her as the girl started sprinting towards another direction - her felines snarling at him making sure he doesn't follow her escape. Disappearing - leaving no chakra traceable behind as the felines started to disappear one by one.

"I hope you enjoyed your rest, Tobirama." The head of the very tall Oota clan told him as they were escorted towards their banquet. Entering another large hall, they were greeted by what he believed to be Kenichirou's children judging by the color of their hairs, their eyes the same creole colored as their father's. A son and eight daughters he counted.

"You've met my only son and first born, Kazue." The first born stood up bowing properly. "The first set of twins, Hina and Himari." Both girls blushed as they looked up towards his direction. "My third born, Sara. My fourth, Hana…." A sudden pause - confused at the sudden silence, he looked towards his old comrade.

"Please excuse my tardiness!" A feminine voice yelled running inside their banquet.

"Hana… Have you been out there again?" Kenichirou stated defeated, his palm covering his right eye.

"I…" She stopped, her eyes widened as she looked towards Tobirama.

"Come on, Hana-chan! You will never find yourself a husband by doing that silly thing of yours. It's very un-ladylike being always tardy because of such nonsense." The third born interjected.

"She will never find a husband looking like that." One of the twins chided in. "You cut your hair so short, no man would ever want you."

That's when he got to take a look at the fourth born's form. Hana, the fourth born was tall - a bit smaller than her father. Unlike her sisters with their overly exaggerated long hair reaching the floor, she had her platinum blonde hair cut in a bob cut. Her forest green colored eyes were a stark contrast from her siblings who were all sporting the same eye color as their father. Her eyes, he thought were defiant and curious.

"I…"

"A man would never desire a woman who knows more than she should know." Another one added. He felt it again - a small brush of chakra towards his.

"I don't care what you think!" Came her loud retort silencing her siblings. "I don't care if I don't look desirable. My 'nonsense' is none of your business. Frankly, I don't even care if I do not get myself a husband! A husband should always support his wife!"

"That is enough! Tobirama-san, forgive my children. Hana, you are to stay in your chamber unless I tell you to leave." The girl didn't even wait for her father to finish as she stepped out closing the door with a loud bang. "That is my fourth born - Hana. The most feisty child you'll ever meet." He heard the Oota head whisper in defeat.

"Father, she did not even attend a single lesson in housekeeping and sewing! How can she beco.."

"That is enough!"