Author's Note: As you may know by now, Japan suffered another earthquake a magnitude of 7.5, 4/7/11, and radiation is still threatening the people who survived. Please, no matter what beliefs, pray for Japan or please help support it. I know no matter which you do, it will help in the long run.
Forest: 3:30 A.M (Past)
As things were blurring in the young Uzumaki's eyes, everything was spinning. The early fog of the morning signaled the coming of a warm day, but the sun was not to shine for another two hours. Kushina was becoming dizzier by the hour. Uzushio was carrying her with difficulty, seeing as though she has not eaten or rested for over twenty-four hours.
The fact that they had heard the excited yells lifted both their spirits and they saw the coming of a small village after three hours. Both girls had worked together to go faster and emerged from the bushes and dense forest. The two were greeted by a small gate and adults who were passing by. As a woman saw the injured girls, she dropped the groceries and ran to both their sides.
Kushina was gasping for air and Uzushio-san trying to help her into a sitting position.
"Dear Lord, what happened to you?" The woman asked urgently.
"Poisoned," Uzushio said weakly trying to muster the rest of her strength to tell the bystander, "help us…"Then darkness.
The screaming again, why… Why those horrible sounds? So much blood, everything is red. I hear laughing, who is laughing? What is so humorous? These faces are familiar… no… Mom, Dad, Isamu!
Aunty! Uncle! Sensei! No…
The young girl woke with a cold sweat running down her back and beading her forehead. The nightmare of the day before was too intense for the girl to comprehend fully. The faces of loved ones flashed before Uzushio's eyes. Looking around she saw she was in a room boarded with natural wood and common white papered sliding doors. Only few things showed who owned the house where she was now resting. Next to her mat she saw a table with a photograph of a family; a husband and wife with a daughter on the husband's shoulders.
There was something missing, or more so someone missing, and Uzushio quickly realized Uzumaki-san was nowhere in the room. She couldn't get up fast enough, it seems, but her injuries and the nights rest caused her body to stiffen and become sore. The red- headed girl was caught by a wave of pain from head to toe. The girl had knowledge of this pain before; her father had once pushed her to exhaustion and dehydration to train for different climate weather. Yes, the girl could last for quite a long period of time, but she was only ten and being as young, she could not last for more than perhaps two days without proper nutrition.
"Ah!" the girl exclaimed silently. Apparently even silence was heard by someone outside the door. As she entered, Uzushio recognized her as the woman from before.
"Dear, are you alright?" she asked concerned.
Because the girl was not alright, she grunted painfully and almost fell back on the ground, but the woman caught her.
"I suppose that means no," she said at attempt at humor, but grew serious quickly, "I will be right back with some tea, it will relax the muscles."
As she left, the girl couldn't help but recall the strange hair color the woman had. Pink. Definitely not normal but she couldn't judge, she did, after all, have short striking red hair. The woman had returned shortly and helped Uzushio sit up to take small sips from the hot tea. Immediately she felt better as the special herbs relaxed the knots in her exhausted muscles. Sudden realization hit the girl, where was Uzumaki-san?
"Where is the other girl that was with me?" knowing saying clan member or friend would give away emotional response from her, she didn't let herself show vulnerability.
"She is fine, dear, you don't need to be concerned about her," the woman said reassuring her, "The poison was actually being fought off by the girl's chakra, as if it was being healed at a rapid pace."
"That's good," she said sighing relieved, "Is she awake yet?"
"Yes actually, in fact she is outside with my husband and daughter playing." Uzushio was surprised and rapidly became worried, what if the enemy spotted her? What if she was caught unguarded?
"Um, can you take me to her?" She asked timidly, but intent on going. The woman simply nodded and smiled.
Uzushio was helped up and noticed that all her pain from previously was gone.
"What was that herb in the tea um…?" Uzushio was uncertain what to call her exactly, and the woman noticed as well.
"My name is Ayaka Haruno, and that was actually herbs grown from past down generations, no one knows exactly what it is, but we call it 'Fire's Life'."
"Haruno-san," the girl said to herself, "Would you be from Nami no Kumi?"
"Yes I would," she said facing the girl, "I would assume you to be of Uzushiogakure because of your hair, and your friend as well."
The girl stared and that gave Ayaka the answer she was looking for.
"I'm not going to turn against you for I am no longer part of the country, I moved to here to be part of Konohagakure." Haruno opened the back door to the court yard and there was Kushina arguing playfully with the woman's daughter. Kushina spotted Uzushio quickly and waved unsure toward her. Uzushio approached her cautiously and looked around with uncertainty. This place was beautiful with the small cherry blossom trees and bridge crossing over a decent length pond. This was definitely The Land of Fire, or at least part of it.
"Hey, Uzushio-san, glad you're okay," said the Uzumaki timidly, but relieved all the same, "I was worried you were hit with the same poison, or worse."
The other girl only shook her head slightly; surprised by the caring tone Kushina gave her. She was not expecting such kindness from the higher class of the clan. She turned her head to see the other pink-headed girl who was Ayaka's daughter. Kushina noticed her curious gaze and grinned widely.
"Uzushio-san, meet Yuki Haruno, she is really a tough one to get along with." She stated with exasperation but with a smile on her face still.
"Hey! I'm not that hard to get along with," Yuki pouted with humor, "you just need to be more patient."
"Patience is something I never had, Yuki-san." Kushina laughed. The young Haruno smiled and shook her head, but then noticed Uzushio wasn't enjoying the moment. Actually she looked as if she dreaded being out in the open. Deciding to try and cheer her up, Yuki nudged Uzushio playfully.
"C'mon, I know you can't be that quiet all the time," she stated with a teasing tone. "What's your first name Uzushio-san?"
The girl was caught in a struggle with herself. No one had ever asked her that before, she was known only as Uzushio ever since her mother died. Kushina also seemed to share the same question given her expression. Uzumaki was nervous to ask any personal questions when it came to interacting with the Uzushio of Uzumaki. Even though they are relatively the same, the way either part treats family is extremely different.
"Um, it's Manami," Uzushio said quietly. "My name is Manami Uzushio of the Uzumaki clan."
"What a pretty name," Kushina said absent- minded. "I always thought that you didn't like your first name, so you stuck with Uzushio-san."
"Thank you, and in a way you were right." Manami said.
The three girls had kicked it off right then and there and began a friendship, but soon it was interrupted by Mrs. Haruno saying that she needed to speak with the Uzumaki clan members alone. Yuki nodded respectfully and went to her father whom was not noticed till now. Any way the two girls were lead inside to the living quarter of the house and invited to sit on a couple of cushions before a small table. Ayaka joined them and calmly tried to bring about their reasons for being quite a long distance from home.
"I am curious as to what you two are doing way out here, so far away from Uzushiogakure, is there trouble?" she asked worried. The two looked at one another for a moment before answering.
"Yes, there is… or was; I'm not sure if there is anything left to be troubled anymore." Kushina spoke softly. It was very unlike Kushina to be this way, but many will think that it is reasonable due to what destruction she saw.
"Our village was destroyed and there are no other survivors that we know of," Manami said with foggy eyes and stoic tone. "It's just us so far, and we were journeying toward Konoha Village to tell the Hokage."
Haruno-san kept her posture, but was almost visibly shaking with either sobs or anger. Neither Uzumaki clan member could tell.
"That's terrible, the two of you must be torn," She said with glazing eyes. "Do you have any idea who could have done this?"
The two girls shook their heads. Thinking about it, Kushina knew some of it was caused by her being the wielder of the nine-tails, but also her own chakra was widely craved by those who are power hungry.
"I have some ideas but─" the girl was cut off, there was a noise of screaming outside, then the husband and daughter of Ayaka burst through the door.
"The bandits have taken another one hostage just now; it is Keiko's brother this time."
Author's Note: This story is an alternate universe that I am contemplating whether it would be total AU or just for Kushina's story arc. Please let me know if you have any ideas for the story or not. (please help Japan.)
