Rangrids - I have an outline of the story and I write it out. And for Naruto's hair, I prefer her to have long, blonde hair-much cuter. You don't have to apologize for asking me questions, I absolutely don't mind answering them. In fact, I like it when my readers ask me question, so don't feel ashamed! Thanks for the review!

- Or it could be someone that you wouldn't have expected! Yes, Naruto knows her father's signature move, the Hiraishin. As for the ages, I will start listing them so the readers won't be confused about that simple fact.

Here is a list of the ages of the characters:

- Hashirama/Madara: 12 years old

- Tobirama/Izuna: 10 years old

- Naruto: 9 years old

- Itama: 7 years old

Asura's Will

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By Angelbloodlover

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~ "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
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Dr. Seuss

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Chapter 3: Unexpected Information

"Gaara: Can Sasuke come out to die?

Kakashi: Not now.

Gaara: ...

Gaara: How 'bout now?"

― Masashi Kishimoto

Naruto looked at the shaking boy, who was eyeing her distrustfully, eyes glinting in the darkness. She didn't blame him though, five minutes ago, five Uchihas had been trying to kill him. Raising her hands slowly in the universal sign of peace, she ignored his flinch at the sudden movement, "Listen here, kiddo, I didn't save you from those big bad Uchihas just to have you eyeing me like I'm about to kill you. There is a reason why I tried to save you." Se kept staring at him, waiting until he acknowledged her true motive. She was being honest and tried to express it through her words and eyes. "Now, tell me, what's your name?"

He looked down, cheeks puffed up, "I-Itama..."

Of course, no family name, that was some shinobi conduct during these war-torn times. She scowled in irritation, remembering her first-err, second meeting with Madara and Hashirama. They hadn't told her their family name either, but she didn't need that to recognize them. Chakra told her what they didn't say. She relied more on chakra, which couldn't lie by the way, instead of words. What were words; nothing, merely a sound produced by the vocal cords. She wanted reassurance of what was said and what better way than listening to the beating of the heart or the chakra pattern of a person.

Tilting her head to the side, she found no evidence of him lying. Slowly on, she walked towards him- there was something about him that felt familiar, too familiar.

She ignored the darkening of his cheeks and leaned forwards, eyes squinted into splits. "Have we met?" Naruto mumbled quietly, invading Itama's personal bubble.

"N-no!" Itama squeaked out, leaning backwards from the blonde, but it was futile, she kept leaning forward, until-"Aaah!" When Itama fluttered his eyes open, he found himself wrapped in the stranger's hold, face too close for his comfort, "A-ano...can you release me?"

Naruto, having found nothing in her head that resembled this little boy with two-honed hair, one black and the other white, released her hold on him. "My name is Namikaze Naruto!" She introduced cheekily, a wide grin plastered on her face.

"You aren't really supposed to blurt out your family name, Naruto-chan..." He sweatdropped when Naruto waved him off, but stilled when he recognized a flash of pain and then gone. Confusion settled in the pit of his stomach and he wondered how he could feel so at ease after being rescued by this weird kunoichi. He shrugged uncaringly, if she had wanted to kill him off, she would have done so a long time ago, just like she had said minutes ago.

"Now, Itama-kun, what are you going to do now?" Naruto questioned the little boy. She, however, wanted the boy to stay with her and to never enter such a grueling battlefield ever. She didn't want this little boy to perish in the sea of blood, like so many did before him.

Said boy seemed to reflect on that question, a pensive frown marring his childish face, "I.. I want to return to my family. They must be worried." He wasn't injured in the least, he was able to get back without any worries, well, he hoped he wouldn't stumble upon any Uchiha. Kami knew that he feared them immensely and after what could have happened, if Naruto hadn't intervened, he would have been dead a long time ago. Then a sudden thought appeared in his mind.

He paled.

How could he be so ungrateful?!

"Naruto-chan, thank you for saving me! There are no words that could describe my gratitude towards you!" He bowed in respect, head touching the grass that tickled his nose, but he remained in that same position. Suddenly, he felt tiny hands touch him and slowly on lift him up, a gentle smile appearing on her whiskered face. He had to admit though, that Naruto was breathtakingly beautiful-long, blonde locks shaping her heart-shaped face and onyx black eyes that seemed to swallow you within.

Blushing madly, he looked down, not noticing Naruto's knowing smile, "Itama-kun, you don't have to thank me. I'd gladly set aside my life for you."

"B-but...I'm a complete stranger...to you..."

She shook her head, "To me you are a child at the wrong place and the wrong time." Itama could have sworn she muttered quietly 'and in the wrong era', but that could have been a fault on his part. After all, Death had almost snatched him from Life itself. He wasn't ready to die, not at all, he wanted to grow up together with Hashirama and Tobirama. He wanted to live just to protect his precious people.

She continued, a faraway glint in her eyes that reminded him of his father whenever he talked about something, reminiscing, always reminiscing. "You don't deserve such a cruel life, you deserve to be a child and be happy. You deserve to meet new people and make friends. You deserve so much more than this." Her eyes narrowed and she gripped his shoulders tightly, fear swirling inside of him but she didn't hurt him, "I don't want children to live like this and I promise you Itama, I shall break this curse that the Uchiha and the Senju have, this so-called hatred they seem to possess. That is a promise of a life-time."

His eyes widened considerably hearing such words. Right then and there he believed her. His heart quickened its pace and he swore he could feel his heart trying to escape his rib cage. To have the power to persuade people was the greatest power one could have, aside with the power of knowledge. He couldn't help but believe in her words, even though they sounded impossible. Something in his gut told him to trust this girl, no older than ten, and to follow her path, promising her to protect her with her life. After her glorious speech, he was once again surprised by her actions, he hugged her and if he felt her tiny shoulders shake and his armor become damp, he didn't mention it.

He only comforted her, soothing quiet words as she babbled about her dead family and losing everyone she had ever loved.

Itama had stayed with her and together they fell asleep. To be frank, Itama had never felt so safe and at ease with Naruto, a stranger he had met a few hours ago. Not even in his clan compound did he feel like this.

He couldn't help but feel as if he was betraying his clan, but that was stupid. No secret were revealed nor asked. Naruto hadn't mentioned anything about the Senju clan or their whereabouts. He was sure that she wasn't that kind of person, even her chakra felt like honesty. And thus another day passed, and another one until he was starting to feel at home. If Naruto had noticed his hesitance to return then she didn't mention it.

One of these nights, she had questioned him about what he would choose. He had answered truthfully, stating, "I don't know, but I'm tired of all this bloodshed, Naruto-onee-chan."

Naruto had only stared in his black orbs and leaned forwards, like the first time they had met, and kissed him tenderly on his forehead. Like Tsunade had done so many years ago.

Itama had blushed like a madman, deciding to ignore her amused giggles.

"You are too kind and soft-hearted! Fight back! The enemy won't hold back because you're a child and you know that damn well!"

Itama flinched at her words and bit his lip, refraining from crying like a pitiful little boy. He wanted to show Naruto that he was capable of protecting himself, but the plan had gone right to the drain. How could he have foreseen that he wouldn't dare to hurt Naruto, his guardian angel?

"I c-can't!" He cried out, dropping on the ground and trying very hard not to sniffle like a pathetic fool.

Naruto felt her eyes soften at the sight of Itama. Maybe she was being too harsh on him? Then, she remembered how he had almost died and shook her head. No, in this era no one was safe, no one was guaranteed to have a high life expectancy. Itama was too kind and that right there would be his downfall. She didn't want him to die on her, she wanted him to live on, damn it.

However, how long would he stay with her until he felt homesick? How long until he wanted to rejoice with his family? How long until she would be once again alone? How long...?

"Itama-kun..." She sighed tiredly, kneeling beside the boy and engulfing him in a motherly hug. "I'm sorry for being too rough on you, but I...I don't want you to die..which is why I want to train you." She was sure that the children of these times didn't have the guidance as the ones from her peaceful era. If she could train him than she was guaranteed that he would continue living on.

The boy with the strangest hair color returned the hug-just like her he had been deprived from affection and love...

"Let's try it differently," Naruto mused out, changing tactics. Itama needed a different approach, not the brute kind, but more soft-spoken, gentler. She ruffled his hair, finding the blush adorning his cheeks very adorable, "I know why you don't dare to attack me, Itama-kun." Ignoring his flustered look, she summoned a clone, "This here is a simple clone. You can go all out on her and it wouldn't hurt me. Look." Grinning widely, she lashed out at the wide-eyed clone and watched it disappear in a cloud of smoke. "See, you won't be hurting me if you attack the clone."

Itama seemed grateful for her help and nodded in determination, his eyes burning brightly. "Hai, Naruto-sensei!" And so, she started from the beginning, fixing his battle stance whenever he did something majorly wrong.

Her lips curled upwards when she noticed the small, shy smile on the small boy. Different was good, this different was better.

Yawning, she stretched her arms out and looked at the rising sun from the top of the highest tree, near the river where she had met Madara and Hashirama. With the aid of her many clones, she had built a small tree house, which stood proudly on the thickest branch. Of course, she wasn't as stupid as to not hide it from prying eyes. One of her strongest Genjutsu was used to hide her temporary home, where she and Itama were residing.

One month had already passed and Itama was still with her.

She was so happy, but oh-so scared- the longer he would stay, the more attached she would become. And once he wanted to turn back to his family, she was sure that her heart would break, especially considering the fact that he would be sent to fight in the battlefield.

To ensure his safety, she had broadened his knowledge, teaching him the different arts of jutsu, heck, she had even taught him how to read and write. He wasn't illiterate, which was a good thing, but he wasn't that great in it either. Everyday, she would summon clones and train her chakra control, which was fucking necessary, and up her stamina, along with Itama. Afterwards, the different set of jutsus-Tai, Nin and Gen. She had even helped him out with Kenjutsu, although she wasn't a master in that art, but Itama seemed to be proficient with it, seeing how he had almost kicked her butt.

So, here she was, training her heart out, along with Itama, until a familiar flicker of chakra appeared near their training area.

Her heart started beating faster when she could feel the sadness protruding from his chakra and she ordered Itama to keep training. She made sure to order her clones to keep watch until she came back.

Itama glanced at Naruto, worry shining in his eyes, and then his jaws slacked open and his eyes bugged out. He shook his head and pointed at the place where she used to be, only to disappear in a yellow flash, "Nani?!"

One of her clones giggled, answering, "That's our father's strongest move, the Hiraishin, dattebayo!"

"..so fast..." He spoke in awe, his admiration for the blonde-haired girl rising even more.

Naruto appeared near a tree, one where she had marked way before. "Hashi-kun?" Carefully, she approached the sitting boy, who only stiffened but relaxed after recognizing her.

"Naruto-cha-an."

Oh no. She hadn't missed the way his voice trembled at the end, nor the way his shoulders were shaking with suppressed anger and sorrow. "What happened?" She asked softly, sitting next to him.

He averted his eyes from the crystal clear river to look at her and she froze, her face going awfully pale. She was almost afraid to hear his answer.

"My brother died."

Her eyes widened and she felt her lips tremble, seeing his pained and lost look. Without thinking, she embraced him, murmuring comforting words. At first, he was stiff and uncomfortable, but gradually on, he dropped his guard completely and hugged her back. She could feel how his body shook in frustration and pain, a certain salty smell invading her nostrils. Tightening her grip on him, she comforted him as best as she could, because losing a precious person was the most hurtful experience in life.

Behind her, she heard the rustling of leaves, which was done in purpose, and then she felt another familiar chakra, "What's going on h-Oh."