The Mistress P.O.V

The Mistress was an old woman. She had worked as a dancer and prostitute during the reign of The First Hokage. When her body had started to slow and her face began to show her age, she retired. Buying her own place and starting a brothel was a natural progression, and before long The Dancing Dragon became very popular amongst visiting nobles and businessmen. Shinobi came often as well, looking for the warmth and touch of another human that did not mean harm. The Mistress had seen many different types of people from all walks of life; the stuffy corrupt nobles with their arrogance and sick fantasies, the abused women looking for companionship, desperate teens searching for any kind of work. She had listened to Shinobi cry in their sleep, had comforted heartbroken men and women, and heard the scandals of the court from the wives of noblemen; participated in quite a few of those scandals with the same wives. At the age of seventy-two, very few things surprised her.

Meeting Namikaze Minato was not a surprise. A surprise is a sudden birthday party, or a visit from a family member you haven't seen in years. No, 'surprise' does not encapsulate the sheer magnitude of feelings she experienced when they met.

Namikaze Minato was a hurricane. A storm, just like his name suggested. When she first saw him trailing into her office behind Masaki, she immediately noted how small he was. The next thing she saw was his hair. As bright as the sun at its peak in the sky, her office seemed brighter just from him entering.

She listened to Masaki tell her why he was here, and decided to indulge the small boy.

"Why do you want to dance child?" The Mistress asked, turning her gaze to him.

Blue, crystalline, beautiful blue eyes with golden rings.

Seeing his eyes nearly made her gasp, not because of their appearance, although that was shocking too. No, it was the calculating intelligence, weighing her up, measuring her worth that made her suppress a shiver. A second later the child smiled, and she almost thought she had imagined it. When the boy spoke, it was with more clarity and eloquence than one his age should possess.

"Because one day I will be a ninja, and I intend to be the best. I will be so graceful that my every move will be captivating, and people will be inspired by my presence alone. Dancing is the way to achieve that."

Determination ran true in his voice, but while intrigued, The Mistress saw no reason why she should help him. She told him so.

"And why should I waste my time teaching you if you're just going to go away and become a shinobi?"

It was as if a switch had been flipped. The child stood straight and the feeling of winds howling, waves crashing, thunder and lightning and fury and storm resonated through the room. The golden blue eyes changed again and the hairs on the back of her neck stood straight.

"Because one day my name will be spoken with fear and awe in every corner of the world. I will be the greatest shinobi to ever walk the earth, and I will change things. And should there ever come a time when you are in need, I will come to your aid. This, I swear."

The world seemed to pause as he made his declaration. The Mistress couldn't stop the shiver that ran through her this time. Those were not the eyes of a child. Staring at the being before her, a thought sprung unbidden to her mind.

What are you?

Still, she could feel his sincerity when he swore. She did not know what this otherworldly creature in front of her was, but she knew he meant every word he said.

I will change things.

Another shudder ran up her spine as she made up her mind. She would teach this nature spirit trapped in a child's body. She did not know what gods brought him here, but he asked, and she would answer.

"I will teach you. Tell me, what is the name of the one who will change the world?"

The golden haired storm-spirit smiled, and it was like the sun after a typhoon.

"Namikaze Minato."

A fitting name, she thought. Yes, she would teach this being to dance. Fluid like the waves, Fierce like the winds, and as unstoppable as a storm.

Hey all, sorry this isn't a chapter! It just wrote itself and I had to upload it. I'll get the new chapter up next.

Blackbird out~