Disclaimer: I own nothing of Naruto

Too many times had I fudged this chapter up. I literally wanted to peel the document out of my computer and tear it into a million pieces!

Kushina/Minato

FLAMES are NOT welcome

If you don't like this, then go write your own. I write for myself and only myself. I'll never HOLD a chapter just because the story isn't getting a lot of attention.

Warning: Here is that supposed twist that probably isn't as amazing as it was brought out to be. Oh well.

Drifting Blossom Chapter Two

Warmth.

It was what the human body sought out when cold. It was something that every human being wished for from family members. It was what children needed to survive throughout their childhood.

It was something Sakura would find missing, when originally, her previous life had been filled with it.

There was a sharp noise within the room before a door was hauled back and slammed in its frame. The sound of footsteps pierced the girl's ears and Sakura groaned, body curling up tighter underneath her blankets as her mind remained foggy.

"Come along my Lady, your father is waiting for you this morning." A woman's voice interrupted Sakura's murky brain and she finally jolted awake, vision blurry with confusion hitting her entire frame. When her eyes came into focus, the first thing she noticed was that the room she was currently in, was wide and quite large, but surprisingly empty of personal touches. The bed was quite a sight too, seeing that it had a large canopy that draped around her body and plenty of pillows as well.

Truthfully, it wasn't a sight Sakura was use to, having lived in an apartment as she furthered her Shinobi training. Even her own childhood room wasn't this big.

"My Lady, please, we have to bathe you and get you dressed for the day. You might think you can always get your way, but it gives you no right to keep your Father waiting." The woman stated and Sakura pushed herself out of bed, eyes wide and searching. It took her a couple minutes for what happened, to finally sink in, but looking around now, she couldn't help but be confused. Where exactly was she, and who exactly was she?

Izanami had made it clear to her that the cost of Sakura going back was more or less her name and body, but she knew better; there was always the thing of looking underneath the underneath. The other question Sakura had on her mind was that of what else was planned out for her. Had she jumped into the deep end?

Another thing Sakura was finicky on was having a whole new family. She didn't know if she could replace her own parents with these new ones. Had she really accepted this deal without fully thinking of the consequences?

The woman who had been speaking to her, grabbed her arm and tugged her along and out of her large bed, smile wide as she pushed Sakura's small frame into the wash room.

"You are going to grow into a fine, young woman." The maid said and Sakura glanced at her as she proceeded with getting ready for the day.

It was the maid stripping her small body that had Sakura's eyes locking onto a full length mirror. Her breath caught and her whole body stiffened as she found a chubby face with violet blue eyes and brilliant red hair. No longer were there emerald orbs. No longer that bright pink hair. No longer did Sakura have the same colored hair as her namesake.

It wasn't until unknown emotions started rolling through her that she realized exactly what Izanami was speaking about. Sakura really would be giving up everything that made her, her. Sakura's face scrunched up and she breathed in heavily as she was picked up and put into the large tub. This messed with her mind, her identity was gone, no longer hers. Who was she? Who could Sakura possibly be if she was no longer Sakura?

Sakura was almost positive that she had three kimono layers on and she frowned. Had she been placed into a basic Hime's body? If that were the case, she'd have to find a way out of here and begin her Shinobi training all over again. There was no way Sakura was going to be a Hime that was sooner or later married off and demanded to have children.

Being led down halls that looked unfamiliar, Sakura couldn't help but be on guard. She felt chakra within her small body, but it caused her to furrow her brows, surprise becoming apparent when she finally realized that she had a lot more chakra than a normal child. How in the world did she gain so much chakra?

She was taken out of her musings when a door was slid open and the maid bowed, stating that her 'Lady' was ready for breakfast. Sakura walked in then, her body automatically bowing as she first stepped into the room. It seems that she was on autopilot with the things she had already been taught. At least Sakura would pick them up as she kept doing them.

"Ah, my lovely Kushina! How are you?" A loud, boisterous voice filled the room and Sakura jolted up, eyes wide. Kushina? Where had she heard or read that name from? Being open to files back home had allowed her to see and read many things she shouldn't have read. Though, seeing that she was the second best medic and apprentice to said Hokage, she had an easy time gaining access to mostly anything.

"I am fine, Tou-san." Sakura muttered, glad that her attitude didn't seem too different from what she was feeling from her current bodies emotions. Soon, she would be settled and Sakura knew it would be her soul within the body from then on out. Though, it didn't stop her own emotions from violently refusing at acknowledging this man as her father. She had a father, back home, in a different time. A mother and a father, and for someone to simply replace them had her gut wrenching into a simmering anger.

"Come and eat dear, then we'll get started on your reading!" her father chuckled lightly before he finally calmed down with a harsh cough and sobered. From the odd looks the maids were giving each other and the foreign feeling coursing through her body, it was obvious that he wasn't at all this friendly on normal occasions. It was probably the cup of sake sitting before him that caused him to be like this. Sakura frowned. She would have to get use to this place, wherever it was.

Sakura, no, not Sakura anymore, she realized, but Kushina. Her name was officially Kushina and she would have to get use to it. Once, she had been that Cherry Blossom, but now, she was someone new.

Kushina ate, slow and well mannered, but she was still iffy on how exactly she acted. If she acted too out there, then they would know something was wrong with her. Though, looking through some memories that were still stored, Kushina blinked.

She was a well known Prankster. She was a loudmouth, easily angered, arrogant, stubborn, and that happened to be the most people saw out of her. She kept most of her other emotions for those closest to her. Though, the question was, should she let herself continue to be the woman she grew up into, or become someone new?

With a sigh, Kushina glanced at her father, his features looking worn as he finished his food. Once they both finished, there was a knock on the door and Kushina turned slightly to see the door being pulled open. She instantly caught sight of an older teen and she frowned before allowing her face to fall into a neutral state. He looked familiar to her, almost like a hazy memory, but that was it.

"Ah, Ryuga-san. Glad you could make it this time." Her father muttered, a scowl upon his lips as he gave the younger man a hard look.

"I am sorry, my Lord. I had family business to attend to, with Uzushiogakure constantly being attacked these days."

Kushina froze, her mind whirling at that little bit of information. So, she was in Uzushiogakure, which would be wiped out at some point early, though when exactly, she didn't know. If she was in Uzushiogakure, then Konoha was around, probably around the Third Hokage's reign, or, on the other hand, it could be during the First Hokage's reign.

Kushina already had a headache coming on as she sat, watching the two older people talk to one another and pondering her future. What was happening anyways and why had she been sent here?

Yet, in the end, Kushina wouldn't just sit back and allow all those bad things to happen. She knew who Tobi was, she knew that it was an older Madara that turned him against Konoha. Even learned about those during the Orochimaru's and Pein's invasion, so no, Kushina would not bow down and follow that path that this woman had in her past. If anything, she hoped that she wouldn't end up making her mistakes as well, seeing that she didn't fully know this woman's path. She might as well take advantage of being here as well. Uzu happened to be very well known for their Fuuinjutsu. What better way to learn Fuuinjutsu than from the original source?

"You are dismissed Kushina. I expect better progress today and not your usual fooling around." Her father suddenly spoke up and Kushina turned her eyes towards her father, finding his scowl smeared across his face. He really wasn't a joyous person and he seemed utterly disappointed in his daughters progress.

Though, from her very short memories, Kushina could tell that she was a prankster and troublemaker, one that actually hated sitting and learning. Another thing Kushina realized was that she didn't pick up this attitude until there were constant attacks upon Uzushiogakure. It seemed, that her way of coping with this tragic time was to try and make people happier with her little game, not that they actually worked.

Her father on the other hand, wasn't proud of her actions. Was this how it was to live in a well known Clan? Was she nothing but a disgrace as of right now with her childish ways? Kushina suddenly felt like she was starting to understand the Clan Children who dealt with the pressure placed upon them.

Kushina followed after Ryuga soon after, her lips thinned as she pressed them together. Might as well become a genius in her own Clan by taking advantage of everything they had to teach. She didn't know how long this Clan would actually be around and there was no time to relax and mess around. Also, being only two years old, from what this body was telling her, Kushina wouldn't be allowed out of the house with all the fighting Uzushiogakure was going through. She was also the Hime of the Clan, so she would probably be well guarded and taken care of. If anything, she would be most definitely pampered, something Kushina hadn't ever had, seeing as to the civilian family she came from.

Ryuga led them to a small room, and sitting down, he gestured for Kushina to do the same.

"Alright, we'll go over some Kanji today and begin on memorizing the basics of Fuuinjutsu." He murmured and Kushina blinked in wonder as he placed a sheet down in front of her. Glancing over it, she scowled. This was a waste of her time, she knew all her letters and words and combinations to these things. She was mentally sixteen, apprentice to the best Medical Shinobi in the world, and a force to be reckoned with. There was no reason for Kushina to dally on these things.

With a pencil, she quickly scratched away the correct symbols and once she was done, handed it over. Ryuga kept his face schooled, but Kushina could already make out the look of utter surprise and wonder within his eyes, followed by suspicion if she were correct.

"Kushina-sama… are you feeling alright?" he questioned and Kushina blinked. It was then that the memory of complaining about each worksheet, assaulted her brain. With a frown, she crossed her arms over her small chest and scrunched up her nose.

"I'm fine. Instead of complaining and getting nowhere, I decided to just be good at this and get it done with to move onto Fuuinjutsu!" she declared, eyebrows raising as she found herself muttering another word at the end of her rant. "'ttebane!"

Ryuga blinked and muffled a small laugh as he watched his student's face morph into horror. That was something Kushina would never get use to.

"You've never liked that verbal tick very much, Kushina-sama." He stated and smiled widely as he shook his head. The small bit of suspicion about her identity flying out the window when he heard the girl's odd compulsion.

Kushina scowled and then gestured for the large book off to the side of Ryuga.

"Can we start on the basics of Fuuinjutsu, please?" she questioned and soon, Kushina was being immersed in something that she had never paid any attention to in her past future life. Just like Medical Ninjutsu, she was absorbing the theory and inner workings of Fuuinjutsu like a sponge. Her brain fully mulling over the steps and putting them together like no other.

"Ryuga-san, is it possible to create any kind of Fuuinjutsu?" Kushina suddenly spoke up and Ryuga turned his attention towards the red head.

"Fuuinjutsu is a very delicate process that could very well kill you. We have already flushed out most of the inner workings and have them all written within the books, but, essentially, yes, one can create possibly any kind." He murmured and Kushina blinked before looking down at the book. This was something that she was definitely going to learn.

There was this one time Kushina had been literally married to the Library in her past life. She had thrived on medical books, from the basic things to the in depth, complicated sections. She had been obsessed, determined to prove herself and to her peers. Now, now Kushina was learning something deadly and useful. Something that could very well end a life with a simple touch.

The Fourth Hokage had learned Fuuinjutsu, but from whom?

Who taught the Fourth how to create seals?

That was left unsaid and it was Kushina who was determined to find out who taught him. It was utterly amazing that they could help him with the basics and in depth areas to the point where he was even creating his own techniques.

Slowly, Kushina fell into a routine. That is, eating meals with her father whenever he was available, being taught by Ryuga, and focusing on Chakra control, which was a bit more difficult with the larger chakra pools that this body harbored. It didn't help that sometime Kushina would find herself either overextending her limbs or falling short when doing stretches or normal day to day things. The first time she had found her reach too short, she had been using ink and a sumi brush. She had believed that she could reach, but hadn't realized how short her limbs were. Kushina could only stare at the table in surprise as she reached forward and instead of simply extending her hand and gently dipping the brush in, she had fallen short, the brush shoving the ink well over.

From there, she could only get to know her new body more intimately than what she was use to, such as stretching and doing simple workouts within her room to understand that she was once more a child and no longer a developing woman.

It was about four months into her new life with not much change that Ryuga led Kushina down a different hall, opening a door and guiding her into a dojo.

Kushina's progress happened to have skyrocketed from the time she had been placed into this new body, and she was becoming intimate with her Fuuinjutsu as well. She knew many, many things about Fuuinjutsu that no one had known after Uzushiogakure had been wiped out. It really did interest her, writing them and seeing the outcome of it.

Though, Kushina had been immersing herself in books and writing nonstop to suppress her emotions about traveling back in time. She just couldn't let it get to her, not when she had things to busy herself with. Yet, Kushina was waiting for it to catch up to her and she knew she would have a hard time adjusting and accepting this whole situation. She only believed that it hadn't fully caught up with her yet because she wasn't in Konoha as of yet, if ever.

She literally feared the possibility seeing Konoha, because it would really solidify everything that had happened.

"Alright, Kushina-sama, we'll begin your training regimen. We'll start off with your basic warm-ups and then begin with your Taijutsu."

Kushina furrowed her brows, she really doubted that it would be as harsh as Tsunade-Shishou's training. She remembered having to dodge everything sent her way. Now, being in a new place allowed her to see many different styles as well.

From there, Kushina was taught the Uzu fighting style, which was focused more on using body weight to their advantage. It was difficult for Kushina to pick it up right away, but eventually she started getting the hang of it. It wasn't too far from her original style, but it was a pretty good experience that she wouldn't have passed up for anything.

About a week later, Kushina was in her bathroom, getting cleaned and dressed before being ushered down to dining room. Her father was waiting, along with her stepmother, who she hadn't really bothered with. Her stepmother was nice, but at some points, Kushina believed that the woman despised her very presence, something that Kushina wasn't use to. Kushina found out that she happened to look very much like her deceased mother and if the looks were anything to go by, the woman was jealous that her husband's dead wife still had her face within these halls.

Knocking on the door, Kushina opened it and bowed before heading in, taking a seat at her father's left, as usual. Her stepmother was always to his right. The first time Kushina had accidently sat on her father's right, she had been scolded and punished by her stepmother, something that left the girl miffed and chakra flickering down her arms and into her hands.

It was a reaction that Kushina doubted she would ever lose, her chakra enhanced punches would always be ingrained within her.

"Kushina." Her father acknowledged.

"Father." Kushina murmured, bowing her head in respect before starting to eat her rice. Kushina didn't miss the darkening look on her stepmothers face before she started to eat as well. That woman really had it out for her.

"How is your training and studies?" her father questioned and Kushina paused, swallowing her rice and looking at her father with a small spark suddenly appearing. This was all Kushina focused on, wanting to, in a way, not think about her situation. She couldn't let it get to her, not yet anyways. Though, it was hard, accepting that this man was her father when she was use to a man who worked in a shop, not one that led a Clan.

"I am learning Fuuinjutsu very quickly. It really is amazing. Also, my main studies are going smoothly, Ryuga-san is very helpful. As for training, I am still getting use to the sudden strain, but it is going alright." Kushina supplied, watching her father light up in pride. The only reason he paid more attention to her was because she pulled back on her pranks, something that Kushina twitched at at some points. It was a very bad habit that she realized she had. When her devious side snuck up on her, Kushina's fingers started twitching, itching for the chance to prank anyone in her way.

Long before she had become Kushina, she use to despise Naruto for pulling pranks and causing trouble, but now, now Kushina wanted to indulge within her need. The only thing keeping her back was the grip on her books as she read deeper into her subjects. She couldn't afford the distraction, not if she wanted to save loved ones.

Ruffling her long, red hair with his large hand, he then went back to eating, murmuring small words with his wife.

"Father." Kushina suddenly questioned, looking down at her plate before looking back up, violet blue eyes locking with his grey ones.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering… can I learn Medical Ninjutsu?" Kushina asked, eyes brightening at the thought of having something constant from her previous life. If she could somehow get someone to teach her, she would have an excuse as to use her medical Ninjutsu skills. Her father furrowed his brow before his face relaxed and brightened a bit, but not too much to look like a smile. It also wouldn't do for Kushina to suddenly know so much about Medical Ninjutsu either, so pretending to relearn it was the only way to make everyone believe she was a natural. Kushina didn't need unwanted attention drawn towards her when she had so much to do to save the future.

"Of course! I'll find someone to begin your training." He stated and Kushina smiled widely while continuing to eat. She really couldn't wait to use a topic that she was absolutely undeniably, very good at. It actually made her miss everything that she had originally come from. She wondered the outcome of her world, but at the same time, she dreaded the possibilities that it led to.

Though, here, they wouldn't have to worry, because Kushina would make sure she saved the correct people and got rid of the wrong ones.

Oooo

Kushina stood frozen within the hallway as Ryuga stood over her frame, panting and muscles trembling. His front was soaked in blood, but he only held a few wounds, nothing life threatening.

"Ryuga-san…" Kushina finally managed to get out, her sudden safety zone having been intruded. Ryuga glanced at her and then back to the body that was bloody and missing some limbs. Kushina still stood within the hallway, looking a bit green at suddenly realizing that she had almost been assassinated.

"Kushina-sama… I'll protect you with my life." Ryuga managed to get out as he knelt down before her and brushed some of the speckled blood from her face away with his thumb.

"Being the Hime of our Clan is also a very dangerous position. You'll be constantly targeted, thus our reason for training you so early." He managed to get out, hands clenching as he watched the young Hime with worried eyes.

Kushina couldn't help but feel fear for herself for the first time when it actually came to her safety in her own home. Never had she been attacked within her previous home. It was almost like a safety zone, even if that was a false impulse to believe. Now it was a danger zone, no longer would she have a safe area without having to watch her back. With hesitation, she finally surged forward, wrapping her small arms around Ryuga's neck. Ryuga grunted at the sudden attachment, but he sighed and picked her up, frowning at the blood from his shirt staining the Hime's outfit.

"Let's go get you cleaned up…" he whispered and Kushina found herself glancing back at the body, a frown marring her face. Would Ryuga be wiped out with the rest of the clan? Kushina didn't wish to think about it.

There were already too many difficulties she had to deal with in the future, now, she had to deal with attempts at her life. Maybe going back was bordering upon a mistake, one that she might not be able to fix if she followed that single path that led to the future she knew.

If only she knew what the previous Kushina had chosen.

Oooo

"Are ye 'ven paying attention Hime?" An old, rough but feminine voice questioned. Kushina looked up from the papers with dull eyes, already knowing medical ninjutsu from the inside out. This old croon was making her blood boil and making her fists clench in anger.

"Yes." She replied, mouth set in a firm line as she continued looking at the woman. She was an elderly person, with graying hair, hunched back, and crow's feet upon her wrinkled face. The smell she carried only informed Kushina that she worked with many, many herbs. She must make poisons and balms and a lot of remedies if she happened to be this old.

Her chakra, if Kushina could correctly examine it, sort of left an impression of wise and very caring. This woman had worked her whole life in what she does and even if Kushina could learn something from her, it was only herbal things, not Ninjutsu.

Something Kushina had also learned about was that Uzumaki's were long lived because of their Chakra. It was odd, to think that they can live a lot longer than a normal life span, but she would have to ponder about that later on.

"Ah, ye need to pay more attention dear." She murmured before going back to the lesson. Kushina would answer any questions asked as time went on, but she was mostly bored and it led to her thoughts drifting towards unwanted places. With a shake of her head, she focused back onto the elderly lady called Hatsuye.

The sound of a door slamming had both of them jumping and Kushina spun around, her hand snapping up towards her hairdo and ghosting over the senbon she had started carrying with her.

"We need to get the Hime out of here, now!" an Anbu suddenly appeared. "Borders have been breached. Ryuga will be on his way." And said Anbu disappeared. In seconds, Kushina was ushered out of the room and Hatsuye was already hurrying down the hall with Kushina in front of her.

" 'verythin' will be al'ight dear." Hatsuye said, but one could hear the fear within her.

That hadn't been the first time their Clan had been attacked past their borders. This was the second time they had been breached. The only thing that Kushina could do was watch as everyone disappeared, scrambling for the borders as she was thrust into a hidden room, covered in Fuuinjutsu seals to protect her.

Just when she had escaped one war, she was thrust into the middle of another war. Life really wasn't fair.

Thank you for all the reviews/alerts/favs and so on. I can't promise an update right away, but I'll get to it.

Lori: Thank you for the long review lol. The enemies will be the ones from Naruto, no sudden random named Ninja that is all powerful. I don't know how far the anime actually is, for I read ahead in the manga *Cough* but anyways...Now, for the 'cost', why, Sakura has jumped into the deep end. She will have a New family, a new Identity, a new lifestyle, a whole new way of living, something she is not accustomed to. She is losing her ID that makes up the human mind to create a whole other identity. Sakura has to adjust to all of this. There will be small comforts, and her distancing herself from others because of how she feels. It's not going to be, oh, cool, I'm back in the past, now let's go find all those that ruined the future and destroy them. One mistake can lead to the same outcome she had faced before she had gone back.

She has lost her comforts, and everything that she took for granted (seeing that all humans take things for granted in my opinion.) As for Izanami, bah, I think I was too lazy... But she knew she was going to die, and seeing that they believe in their gods (if they do?) I literally just threw that in there... could make it better, but I'd have to rewrite some areas and, as I said, I'm lazy, lol.

Thanks for the review and questions to clear some of that up (if I helped at all)