"Our fathers were the heroes, legends who had made the names of Hokkaido and Suishoku more than just those of shadowy clans from a history book. The Negotiator and the Storm. We always wanted very much to be like them. But, back then, we were just children forced to play soldier. And, as strong as our parents were, they couldn't do anything to save us."

True to his word, the Hokage had procured a fully habitable land for the Hokkakido within a few days' time. It required a great deal of effort on the parts of many people, and multiple hours of hard work, as the trees were cleared and the first houses were put up. It would be a while yet before everyone in the clan was truly able to make the shift, but, there was little worry with the speed at which the structures were being raised. The compound was near enough to the Suishoku that the moving process would be simple, and there was no true rush. After all, even the handful of families that left to inhabit the new compound freed up space for those remaining with the Suishoku. The progress heartened both clans, but, the victory was fleeting, as it was had in the looming shadow of the knowledge that many of them would soon return to the battlefield.

Though Kashikoi's healing had been a bit slower than predicted, by the time three days had passed since the meeting with the Hokage he was limping about without a cane. He still experienced discomfort, but, he was not in pain as he had been before. The wound on his leg had closed into a jagged scar, a clearly visible mark on his pale skin. Kashikoi was hardly concerned by it. After all, he could not see it, and scars came with being a shinobi. For Suisen, though, it was a mark of his failure. When he accompanied Kashikoi during his appointment in which the doctor assessed his headway in healing, Suisen had seen the mark for the first time. It stretched from above the blind man's knee to his ankle, following the path the blade had cut. Having witnessed the original cut, Suisen couldn't deny that it did look better. But, he still disliked it, and blamed himself for the incident. Kashikoi had tried to talk him out of this mindset, but, Suisen had only made it less obvious, secretly clinging to the guilt that plagued him. The doctor had said that he would prefer that Kashikoi not return to the field, but, the Suishoku clan leader was badly missed. He was a skilled strategist and a fearsome combatant. The Leaf needed him, and so, he would leave with Suisen. The Hokkaido escort received this knowledge with mixed feelings. He would be glad to have his friend at his side again, but, he knew that Kashikoi would not be at his full physical capacity, and therefore in even more danger than previously.

Another thing that was causing Suisen a great deal of ire was his daughter's recent interactions with an Uchiha boy. He held no love for the Uchiha, knowing all too well the bloody history between their clans. He had already been in a foul mood when he and Kashikoi had returned to the Suishoku compound after meeting with the Hokage. Both men had spent the walk back steeling themselves for the conversations they were to have with their daughters. Each had a different approach as to how they wished to convey their news that it would be prudent for their daughters to bond, for the sake of survival. The news that it was likely that both girls would be soldiers within a little less than a month, pitched against the enemy before either had even reached the age of ten. Neither child was unintelligent. They both would know what this meant. Survival was dubious for even seasoned ninja. For children facing adults who would readily slaughter them…

Suisen had forced the thought from his mind when they entered the compound, breathing deeply to prepare himself. He had wished that Yuri was with him. As hardened as the Hokkaido matron was, she was a loving and supportive wife and mother. He needed her then, so that she could tell him how to approach this situation. But, she remained in the Valley, with miles of land between them, doing her duty as matron. A duty that never should have been hers. It would have passed to Suitopi, her older sister, had she not been killed as a child. The name Suitopi was always given to the next in line for leadership, always to the eldest daughter of the matriarchal clan. His Suitopi would claim that right. If she survived the war.

With this pall hanging over him, he had followed Kashikoi into the clan leader's home, expecting to be greeted by his daughter's smiling face. Kashikoi's wife had informed them that both girls had ventured outside the compound in search of one of the public training grounds since the Suishoku's had been overrun by clan children. Suisen had, almost shamefully, been relieved by this. He had seen the way Kashikoi relaxed slightly as well. They had a bit longer, just a small bit longer, to let their daughters be children. Together, they had waited on the porch, speaking in low tones as Suisen watched the gate and Kashikoi extended his senses beyond.

Eventually, Kashikoi had straightened, sensing the familiar chakra of his daughter. Then, he had frowned.

"They come…but there is someone with them."

Frowning, Suisen had turned his eyes towards the road. A few minutes later, he saw them, Suitopi dragging Hinagiku by the hand. And with them, a boy. As they drew nearer, Suisen had finally been able to identify the boy. He was unmistakable, with his dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin, and fine features. The general grace with which he moved was telling as well. He glanced at Kashikoi, who had cocked his head slightly.

"I sense…yes, an Uchiha," his lips quirked, "How intriguing. Out of all the clans for them to find a friend in, this was the one I least expected."

Suisen did not share his friend's pleasant surprise. A fierce scowl overtook his face and he stood, striding across the yard to meet them at the gate. He ignored Kashikoi's long-suffering sigh behind him, focused on the way the Uchiha boy was actually drawing a grudging smile from his daughter, talking animatedly with his hands, his dark eyes shining.

This had to be stopped. No Uchiha was going to hang around his daughter.

Whatever plans he had to warn the boy off were brought to a halt when Suitopi caught sight of him. Ignoring his thunderous expression, she released Hinagiku's hand and sprinted towards him full-tilt. Instinctively, he opened his arms to receive her, catching her as she slammed into him and almost immediately began to chatter. He barely had time to glance up to see the Uchiha leading Hina through the gate as his attention was completely commandeered by his child, causing his scowl to disappear.

The next thing he knew, the Uchiha boy was leaving with a friendly wave and a "Bye, Sui! Bye, Hina! I'll see you later!"

He frowned slightly as the boy left, but, said nothing. A moment later, Hinagiku approached him, smiling sweetly, and extended her hand.

"Hello, Suisen-ojisan, did your meeting go well?" she asked in a tone that matched her smile.

He didn't miss the way Sui shot the smaller girl a glare, which was unnoticed by its target. A flash of amusement worked to dispel his previous displeasure. Hina had her father's knack for reading the atmosphere and acting accordingly, though, she usually acted in an inflammatory manner. She knew how little Sui liked to share and, though Suisen didn't at all mind acting as Hina's uncle, he sensed that she only reached out to him now to irritate his daughter. Nevertheless, he took her small, outstretched hand.

"Hm," his reply was noncommittal, "When we reach your father, we will discuss it in detail."

Both children picked up on his tone. Hina's smile faded and her eyes narrowed slightly. Sui was a bit more obvious in her confusion. Without another word, he had led them back to Kashikoi on the porch, the Uchiha boy forgotten.

At least, he was until he had shown up the next day at the gate of the compound in mid-afternoon. Suisen and Kashikoi had been discussing the news from the front and the progress of the deforestation for the Hokkaido compound when their daughters had shot past, fully dressed, startling both of their fathers.

"Where are you going?" Kashikoi asked with a slight chuckle.

After the two had been informed the previous night that it would be prudent if they bonded, they had been solemn and contemplative for the rest of the evening and even when they went to bed. In the morning, they had seriously discussed the subject. Well, as seriously as children with a child's understanding of the topic could. For the entirety of the day, they had remained sequestered in Hinagiku's room, their voices low murmurs behind the closed door. Occasionally, Sui would raise her voice or a dull thud would sound, but, other than that, the girls remained surprisingly quiet. Their sudden energy was both surprising and heartening to their parents.

"Shisui's here! He said he would pick us up today!" Hina called as she and Sui sprinted through the door, followed by a call from her mother to be home in time for dinner.

Suisen stared after them for a moment. Then, his face went suddenly red as his anger boiled up. He gritted his teeth, moving to stand and go after them. He was stopped when Kashikoi gripped his wrist. Suisen looked at him sharply.

"Kashi-!"

"Please, brother," the blind man said, smiling slightly, "Do not let your prejudice cloud your view of this boy."

Suisen's eye twitched.

"Why the hell not? He's an Uchiha. Pompous, arrogant bastards who-!"

"No. Not all of them," Kashikoi cut in lightly, "I can't say I much care for their leader, Fugaku, but I've heard about this boy. They say he is exceptional on all fronts, and will graduate at the top of his class after only a year."

Suisen scoffed, as this information only solidified his negative opinion.

"And," Kashikoi continued as if he had not heard, "He is known among his peers and seniors for his kind and cheerful disposition. Think about this, Suisen, before you attempt to sever a friendship that could be very beneficial for all involved. The boy is a prodigy, and he had extended his hand to Hina and Suitopi. They could learn a great deal from him, and he from them," he sat back, releasing Suisen's wrist, "Do not blame the child for his clan's past misdeeds. Let him be a child, with other children."

"I agree."

Suisen looked up in surprise. Kashikoi's wife leaned against the doorframe between the kitchen and dining room, her face turned towards him, her blind eyes looking just past him.

"Yuuki…"

The Suishoku matron was beautiful, with the same daintiness her daughter possessed. As she was a woman of few words, it was best to listen when she spoke. She was more emotive than her husband, though not nearly as powerful. She had been raised as a lady, not a shinobi. Her usage of their Kekkei Genkai was minimal and she knew little of the ways of the shinobi, preferring to oversee the more domestic aspects of the clan.

Kashikoi smiled, extending his hand towards her when he heard her approach and slipping his fingers into hers. She immediately grasped his hand.

"Suisen, I know you dislike the Uchiha. But, the times when they were our enemies has long since passed. Put our history aside and let this new generation build bridges in the gap we've let settle," she turned her face towards the window, where she felt the sunlight filtering onto her skin, "I can't imagine it's easy for that boy. He's so intelligent and so talented that he must intimidate his peers, despite his kindness. It's unlikely that he has many true friends," she 'looked' to Suisen again, her voice still gentle, "Much like our own daughters, yes?"

Suisen frowned, unable to argue with Yuuki's soft, persuasive tone. He hadn't thought of it from that perspective. Kashikoi smiled and drew his wife's hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of it.

"Well spoken, my love."

Yuuki gave his hand a soft squeeze before drawing away, her part said.

Suisen sighed, dragging a hand through his blonde hair in exasperation. It fell freely about his face, loose from its usual tail. He would accept their reasoning, as their logic was sound. But, he didn't have to like it.

He still didn't like it. As he watched the children say goodbye to each other at the gate for the third day in a row, he had to grit his teeth and remind himself what a 'kind, cheerful boy' Shisui Uchiha was. It was hard to do when it was Suisen's daughter over there with him. Suisen's daughter he was grinning at. And his best friend's daughter who was smiling back.

The little rat.

Hinagiku and Suitopi's training sessions with Shisui did indeed have the desired effect. Shisui's proficiency with fire jutsu was of great benefit to Suitopi, who, despite her original dislike of the boy, had warmed up to him within the first few hours of knowing him. At first, she had maintained her foul attitude towards him, but, a few fire jutsus and jokes later, and he had drawn at least a small smile from her. Hina was much more welcoming, as she enjoyed his warm chakra and the kind tones he spoke in. He made her laugh, even when they were training. When he had originally asked to train with them, neither girl had known what to expect. What had happened was surprising to both. They had begun with a sparring session, feeling each other out, quickly learning what the others' strengths and weaknesses were. Then, it had shifted to practicing certain skills in the way that the children at the Academy did, through repetition and drills. Shisui's natural talent and ability to instruct proved invaluable. He had no experience in teaching, but, his knowledge of technique allowed him to offer assistance. Hina, for instance, could throw a kunai at a target whose chakra she sensed, but her aim was affected by her blindness, causing her to do only a little damage. Shisui helped her by pressing her hands around the kunai in the correct way and guided her through the form so that she would be able to aim properly at the target's vital points. He even encouraged her to practice finding his own vital points and mark them by throwing a small rock at him. With Sui, he helped perfect her D-rank Kasumi Enbu, a jutsu that involved the user spewing flammable gas from their mouth and then lighting it with a spark. Training with Sui was easier for him, since she was capable of watching his form and mimicking it. Still, she gave him plenty of attitude, which he brushed away with laughter and smiles.

Together, the children worked on ninjutsu, taijutsu, and weaponry, as a true squad might. They also had a great deal of fun together during their breaks. Shisui was a naturally gifted storyteller, and he often recounted events from the Academy or his own home. In return, Hina and Sui satisfied his boundless curiosity about their clans to the best of their ability, without giving away what they believed could be sensitive information. He wanted to know about their Kekkei Genkai especially, but, that was one subject that both girls shied away from. Young though they were, they had been warned against sharing information about their clan abilities. Though they doubted Shisui had malicious intent, and he assured them that he simply wanted to know how things worked, they kept their peace. He respected this, as he did the same with the Sharingan. Sometimes, these times spent simply sitting in a circle in the grass, sipping water and talking, devolved into games of hide and go seek in the forested part of the training grounds. The young shinobi chased each other through the trees, laughing in the carefree way only children could. Even Sui, who had, by the second day, quite forgotten why she had decided not to like the Uchiha boy, enjoyed the time they spent together. They were all talented young individuals, and all very skilled at using their trained abilities in even the simple game of hiding behind trees and evading each other. Despite the amount of fun they had, however, they were all aware of the short amount of time they had together, and would quite punctually arrive back at the Suishoku compound each evening.

On the evening of the fifth day, they left the training grounds a bit early, taking the long way back in order to have more time to talk. In a mere five days, the three children had become nearly inseparable. Their daily routine involved Shisui picking the girls up at the Suishoku compound each afternoon after his day at the academy ended, training, and then the three of them walking back together. As Yuuki had suspected, Shisui had few friends at the Academy. Many of his classmates admired him, but, it was that admiration that created a barrier between them. Suitopi and Hinagiku were different. Though they respected his abilities, neither of them held him in the same awed regard as the others around him. Sui routinely insulted him and snapped at him, calling him 'monkey boy' and 'shi-baka'. She also had a habit of hitting him when she was displeased with him, slapping the back of her hand against his chest, or punching his arm just hard enough to make him wince. No one at the Academy dared to do that, wary of his natural abilities as a shinobi.

Hina, whose perception of the world revolved around using her other senses to compensate for her blindness, had a habit of touching those around her without warning, including him. At first, he had been a bit put-off, as he was unused to such blatant physical contact. He had quickly adapted, though, quickly shifting to finding it fascinating when she would gently touch his shoulder or brush a hand across his back to gain a context of where he was in a space and how he filled it. The day before she had asked to touch his face, explaining that it was the only way she could have any discernment of his features. He had complied, intrigued, and allowed her to map out his face, fingertips ghosting over his skin and gaining a context of how his features were laid out. She had even carded her fingers through his hair, her face an impassive mask of concentration. She finished by pinching his nose between her thumb and forefinger.

"Sui was right. You do have a big nose," she had said blandly.

That was another reason he enjoyed hanging out with them. They were both incredibly blunt about what they were thinking and made no effort to censor their words in order to gain favor with him. And he did the same for them, aware of how their statuses as heiresses separated them from others their age, just like him.

Hina happily kept ahold of Shisui's hand as they walked. He was much more receptive to leading her physically than Suitopi was, and tended not to complain, a sharp contrast from Sui's griping. As the trio walked down the street together, they drew a few curious looks and greetings from those around them. The Suishoku were a fairly close-knit group who, though exceedingly polite, did not venture about. The Hokkaido were new enough to be objects of interest still. And the Uchiha, with their reputation, always drew attention. To see the three of them together created a much bigger stir than just seeing one of them would. Gossip already abounded concerning the nature of their friendship. The children ignored it all, the three of them used to drawing attention.

"What do you plan to do tomorrow?" Shisui asked his two female companions, "I have the day off from the Academy and don't really have anything planned."

At his mention of the next day, Sui's expression became serious and Hina walked with less of a bounce in her step. Sensing the shift in mood, Shisui frowned slightly.

"What is it?"

Sui glanced back at Hina.

"…The day after tomorrow, our fathers are going back to the war," she said quietly.

Their fathers and the other combatants from the Hokkaido and Suishoku who were currently in the village were to return to the front lines. Their presence was desperately missed, and the Leaf was in need of reinforcements. A week of rest was all that could be asked for in times of war. And even that was generous.

Hina nodded.

"Outo-san has recovered enough that he says it's time to fight with Suisen-ojisan."

Shisui's expression fell slightly. He understood their sadness. Many of his clansmen, including his own father, were engaged in the war effort. The Uchiha were just as coveted as the Suishoku and Hokkaido due to their natural inclination as shinobi. And due to their Sharingan.

"So you'll be spending the day with them? That's good," he tried to smile encouragingly.

Neither of the girls' expressions changed.

"We'll be with them, but…" Sui paused for a moment, then, she suddenly scowled, "It won't really be a relaxing day."

The Uchiha boy frowned slightly, showing his confusion. Hina sighed.

"What Suitopi means to say is that, tomorrow, she and I are bonding."

Not much was known about bonding outside the clans. Only that there was a ritual involved and that the process produced a fearsome Suishoku-Hokkaido pair. The reputation of the bonded pairs was mostly why outsiders knew about the process at all. Shisui's dark eyes widened slightly.

"Really? Wow-!" he trailed off, seeing how his exclamation made Suitopi's frown deepen, "…Isn't that a good thing?"

Hina raised one dainty shoulder in a shrug.

"It will make us strong. It is necessary for our survival."

"Survival?"

Suitopi scoffed, viciously kicking a rock out of her path and into the side of a building.

"They're gonna ship us out when they assign the teams," she snapped, "Lord Third practically told our dads that. Because I'm a pure-blood Hokkaido close to unlocking my Kekkei Genkai and have already seen combat, I'm a good candidate. Hina's sensory skills are the best of her age group, and she shows the most promise the Suishoku have seen in an heir since her great-grandpa, or some crap, so they'll probably send her too. She's only six."

"I'll be seven by that time," Hina put in quietly, "My birthday is coming soon."

Her grip on Shisui's hand had tightened progressively as Sui spoke, betraying how afraid the prospect of battle made her. Shisui squeezed her hand once in return, trying to comfort her at least a little.

"Ooh, big difference," Sui spat, "It's potentially dangerous to bond before age thirteen is what dad said, something about body chemistry before puberty. But, since looks like we'll be sent to fight soon, it's the best shot we have at making it back alive. Especially Hina."

The blind girl was aware of the glances of both of her companions, but, she did not acknowledge them. She had heard about the previous genin who had been sent to the battlefield. It wasn't uncommon in this time. She had known it would be a possibility when the Elders declared her able to register. But, when her father had confirmed it a few days previously, she hadn't been able to stop the tears that had run down her face. He had taken her into his arms, whispering to her not to give up or feel certain of death, but to fight to live. No matter how many enemies stood before her, to fight to return to him and her mother. She had promised him she would. And that she would make sure Sui lived too. But it seemed like such an impossible task for a small, blind seven-year-old to complete.

Sui and Shisui were the only friends she truly had. Sui was like her, an heiress. The other children didn't really want to be their friends because of that. But they had each other, and Shisui hadn't cared at all about ranking. He was so smart and kind and he had helped them both so much. She suspected that, like them, he didn't have many friends either, and that this was part of the reason why he had spent so much time with them over the past few days. She was grateful to him. Without him, they couldn't have had those few hours of just being kids. She was young, but she had an inkling of what a precious thing that was. The ability to laugh and forget about the war for just a while. She knew how important the quick trust they'd established was. There were few people like Shisui in their world. And few people like Suitopi. She was fortunate to count them her friends.

"We will live, Suitopi," Hina said firmly, "We'll bond tomorrow and we'll live through this war. We're going to grow old and each have at least three children."

Sui glanced at her, still scowling. After a moment, she scoffed.

"What if I don't want to have kids?"

Hina's expression shifted to the familiar, deadpan one that appeared when she was preparing to deliver a verbal blow.

"That's up to you. Now that I think about it, though, I'm not sure what man would ever want to be with you so that you could have kids."

Suitopi immediately scowled.

"You midget-"

Though she made a move towards the younger girl, further altercation was stopped by a laughing Shisui, who placed himself between them. He was glad to see the pair pulling themselves out of their depression, even if it was just momentary. The war hung over them all like a cloud, the days until their graduation to genin slipping away like sand through the hourglass. It was inescapable, signs of it lurking in every corner of the village. But, for now, they would just be them. Shisui himself was grateful for these simple times as well. He knew that they wouldn't have many more before they were sent into battle. Less than a month remained. Just a few short weeks where they could just be children, laughing, playing, and training. He didn't have many friends. He was well-liked, yes, because of his outgoing personality and natural talent, but, few of his peers or direct elders could keep up with him, and he was too young to interact with those who could. He was in an odd, gray area of being: too strong to be just a child, too young not to be.

And then these two had shown up. He had just been on his way to the training fields after being dismissed early from the Academy, walking through the crowded streets, when he'd heard a very loud, childish voice cursing from just a short distance away. Curiosity piqued, he had gone to see what the commotion was about and found the two girls arguing about how to get to the training fields. Amused and feeling a bit sympathetic, he'd offered his help, with the stipulation that they allow him to join them. It was a spur of the moment addendum to his original offer of just leading them to the training fields, made when he realized just who he was speaking with.

Until the emergence of Kashikoi Suishoku and Suisen Hokkaido, the two clans had remained rather mysterious. After the clan wars, they had faded into almost anonymity, remaining hidden in the shroud of history. The appeared on and off in different wars, listed among the clans associated with the Leaf, or were briefly mentioned in key battles. He was sure that, if one were to search hard enough, a roster of enlisted members of both clans was available somewhere, though, he had never checked. Their role as background players in a larger picture had ended when Kashikoi Suishoku reached the age of thirteen and was bonded with the then fourteen-year-old Suisen Hokkaido. The pair was said to have been the most successful bonding in the history of their clans. They had emerged as competent and impressive fighters, even at that young age, and demonstrated extraordinary progress with the bond itself, hitting all of the usual benchmarks ahead of time and with great surety. Combining this with their individual skills made them a fearsome team. Kashikoi's ability to navigate social and political conflicts was unprecedented, and Suisen's ferocity as an individual combatant had earned him the fear and respect of his enemies. Kosho to Arashi, the shinobi that young ninja in training dreamed of being like. Shisui himself was completely taken with Suisen Hokkaido. Strong, fierce, capable, and a brilliant leader, he had been one of Shisui's idols ever since the boy first read about him. Unfortunately, he had the impression that Suisen didn't like him much. At least, every time he caught a glimpse of him, the imposing man was scowling fiercely in his direction. It was more than a little discouraging. At least Sui sort of liked him. And Hina had told him that they were friends. That was good too.

"You'll be fine," Shisui said with a smile, "You guys are strong."

Hina turned her blind eyes up toward where his voice came from, staring just past his head.

"Aren't you worried too, Shisui? You're graduating and registering just like us."

Shisui gave a nonchalant shrug. In truth, yes, he was worried. He had seen what the war had done to some of his relatives within the clan and heard plenty of horror stories about those who hadn't come back at all. Some of them, it had been reported, had left nothing behind to be returned, their bodies utterly destroyed by enemy jutsu. Others, he knew, had returned in pieces, not all of them accounted for. The children at the Academy talked and shared rumors outside of what happened in the Uchiha clan, and Shisui listened. He knew all too well what they were meant to be sent into. He knew that Sui did too. That she had already killed enemy shinobi and watched kids her age fall in battle during the defense of the Hokkaido valley. By unspoken agreement, they remained silent on the matter, neither wishing to tell Hina what the battlefield was like. The girl was only six months younger than Shisui, but, there was a certain fragility about her, despite her attitude and sharp tongue. Both were quietly relieved that she would never truly see the effects of battle. It would be hard enough for her without watching what happened to comrades and enemies alike on the battlefield.

"I'll be alright. I'm an Uchiha, remember?" he grinned, his tone teasing, "We're naturals at everything."

Sui gave an unladylike snort. Both girls knew that, if anyone but Shisui were to bring up his extraordinary natural talents, he would become uncomfortable. They had learned early on that no one but Shisui was allowed to make jokes about him in that way, and that was fine with them. It was much the way that only Sui and Hina were allowed to make jokes about Hina's blindness.

"I hope someone shoves a kunai right up your ass when you're busy being cool on the battlefield," the Hokkaido heiress said.

Hina sighed at Sui's language. The older girl usually curbed her tongue when around adults, but, as soon as she was with her friends, she would cut loose, using language ill befitting an eight-year-old. Shisui laughed.

"You're so mean, Sui! Then I couldn't sit down, or go to the bathroom."

Sui smirked, arms folded over her still childishly flat chest.

"Serves you right for being stuck up, Shi-baka. I thought you were supposed to be a nice Uchiha."

Shisui looked mystified by this.

"There are lots of nice Uchiha, Sui. My mom and dad are nice. And my cousin, Kaoru. Though," he wrinkled his nose a bit, "He's only two so I don't know if he really counts."

Hina shook her head, still holding onto Shisui's hand.

"No. Babies don't count. They could grow up and be really mean. Like Sui," instinctively, the blind girl ducked, knowing from experience that her friend had aimed a smack at the back of her head. It hit Shisui's arm instead and he muttered an 'ow' through an amused smile. "Suisen-ojisan said that she was a really cute baby, so I don't think she was always like this."

"Brat."

The playful bickering continued until the trio reached the Suishoku compound. There, the girls left Shisi with a fond farewell on Hina's part and a 'I hope you trip on your way home, you monkey' from Sui, who was upset that he had most often taken Hina's side in their banter. He waved to them as they departed, watching as they ran up the street and to the main house. When they were out of sight, he let his hand fall and turned away, walking back the way they had come. His smile faded as he let worry creep in. No matter how nonchalant they acted, none of them could deny what was coming. Not for the first time since meeting the heiresses, he genuinely hoped that they would survive this war. And that this ceremony would improve their chances. They were his first true friends. And he desperately wanted to keep them.

*Crawls in*

Wow, I actually updated this. And I have another chapter in the works. Good grief. College killed all of my writing muse T_T. Fortunately, it's summer break! Aside from work, I am free as a bird! Yaaaay!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, the series or the character. I don't even own Suitopi, she's Melissiaew's. I don't even own all of the plot. Good grief. Just know that Hina is mine.

Disclaimer 2: This story will deal with themes including child soldiers, loss of life, mutilation, the effects of war, and so on. It is a dark, sad story that is heavily involved with some of the Naruto sub-plots, especially those that occur within the Leaf itself. Read at your own risk and understand that there may be certain themes that make you uncomfortable. It is my goal to play off that darker side of Naruto that we don't see as often until later in the series.

Thanks for reading! Please leave a review so that I can reply to them! Feel free to ask questions!

Guest: Thanks so much for the review! It means a lot. I hope you enjoy this update!