"Nii-sama...t-take care of S-shina f- for me..."

The young woman whispered before her final breath.

"NOOO!! NOT AGAIN!!"

Ruki shouted as he screamed loudly.

He ran to her but was then called out by a familiar voice.

That was when he woke up..

"OJII-CHAN!! YOU'RE SCREAMING IN YOUR SLEEP!!"

A girl shouted to her grandfather as she shook him violently in worry.

Opening his eyes the old man found himself looking at the sweating tan skin and proud red hair of his grandchild.

Ruki pov

"Oh, Reiko-chan! W-what happened?"

I said ignoring the horror from my vision as I used my chakra to steady my heart.

"You were suddenly screaming in your sleep!"

Reiko told me as I sighed in a bit of shame.

Really...and to think I've used to think I've come to terms with the past..

It's been years since Uzoshio's fall..

Back then, Tetsuo was only a child .

To think now he has his own child..

"Ojii! Did you have a nightmare?"

The child in front of me asked softly.

"No, I think I just got a back itch. Mind reaching it for me, sweet girl?"

I said jokingly.

I'd rather pass this as a joke than let her know about-...

Uzoshio...

Reiko has never known war. For now, I wish for it to stay that way. She'll learn well enough when I go to the field and when she becomes a shinobi.

"Ojii-chan... that's just crude.."

She said as her dark brown eyes cringed harshly.

Right... it's best to let her have this time of innocence for awhile...

Gazing at my surroundings, I found myself looking at the tree I fell asleep on near the Shinobi Academy.

That reminds me...

"How did your test go?"

I asked as I dusted the fallen leaves of my body and stood up.

Seeing her somber face, I didn't have to know more...

Giving her then a trained gleeful smile despite the atmosphere.

"I'm sure it'll turn out great! How about we get some yakiniku for tonight, Reiko-chan?"

I've never expected it to be handy but from my past as Uzoshio's diplomat I've learned how to control my expression enough to change the atmosphere.

"Haii!! I want to go to the one near the lake! Muge-san makes the meat the best!"

She replied gleefully loud with excitement.

Hmm...to think that from watching me do it she ended up learning how to do it too...

I really should use less of these tricks on this child ...

She's still just a civilian..

Nonetheless her instincts really are fascinating..

"Well then! Yosh! To Muge-san's place we go!"

I said matching her acted enthusiasm.

To anyone watching, they wouldn't even know the atmosphere here is rather brighter than it should be..

She failed again didn't she...

Well... she'll get it done sooner or later but thinking of my request to the hokage I hope it'll be much earlier..

I thought as I held her hand gently as I lead her down Konoha's streets.

Uzoshio used to be like this.

Lively and full of people..

I never told her but the meat in Uzoshio was unparalleled.

The sukiyaki under the Uzumaki used to be one of the best places.

Mouthwatering enough to cause fights on the road.

Remembering the past..

I really wish Reiko would've seen it..

Matsuo and her would've got along well..

She'll be perfect for annoying him with his own tricks with that sharpness.

My sister...

She would've loved her.

She looked so much like okaa-sama..

'Take care of Shina for me'

I reminisced her final words. They echoed through my mind to the point I felt her voice almost alive in the memory.

"Oi! Jiji!! Long time no see, Dattebane!"

I heard a someone say.

Ah...Shina ended up becoming so much like her mother.

Being too lost in thought I was too late to sense a coming force as it whammed me straight at the guts.

"Jiji! Ha! You're senses dulled! Whose the scatter brain now! Dattebane!"

Hearing that I found myself looking at a familiar crimson haired woman.

She grinned widely as she chuckled wearing her Shinobi head band proudly looking all scruffy. She must've just returned from a mission.

No wonder I didn't see her in her apartment last time.

Nonetheless I couldn't help but smile despite the pain in my guts.

Ah...she looked so much like her mother..I can't be mad at her..

"Kushina-chan! Long time no see! Did your mission go well!"

I asked my niece, Uzumaki Kushina, cheerfully.

"Yeah, Dattebane! With me around, there's no way they were gonna screw i-OOOFF!!"

She chipped cheerfully but was interrupted by a sudden force on her leg as she fell to the floor.

"Shina-chan, a shinobi must always keep their guard up!"

I mocked as I snickered to her face.

"No fair, Jiji! You lost first! You don't get to hit me, Dattebane!"

She complained loudly as I felt her chakra surround us in anger.

Her hair raised under it's force.

To think she even inherited that little quirk from her.

She's gotten even stronger than the last time I saw her.

I'm really getting old.

I can't get mad at her but I didn't say I couldn't teach her a bit of lesson. I am her elder after all.

Although perhaps I did overdo it, I'd rather not fight in the street full of civilians.

Not to mention...

This chakra..

Just sensing it..

To think that child has grown enough to even overpower me..

I unexpectedly found myself breaking into a cold swear as I stepped backwards unconsciously. I perhaps did go a little overboard.

Fortunately, hearing a thundering growl in her stomach I skipped to the chase.

"Shina-chan, you must be hungry after your mission. Wanna join us for dinner?"

I asked her as she calmed considering her stomach.

"Sure!! But you're treating me, Jiji! I'll eat enough to bust your wallet, Dattebane!!"

She said rather far too cheerfully ignoring the venomous aura she emitted earlier as she ran eagerly ahead of us.

Well it's nice to spend time. I wanted to ask her when I saw her anyway.

Thinking that, I felt a soft tug on my hand.

"Ojii-chan! We better hurry Shina Obaa-san's getting ahead of us!"

The crimson haired child called out to me frantically as she looked at my niece running like a wild dog.

"You're right. Well let's hurry then..want to get dango again later?"

I said as we began moving forward.

"Haii!"

I heard her reply in glee as I chuckled.

...

Later..

I gazed around me at the little shop. The juicy smell of smoky burnt delicious meat filled the air as I heard the other customers chatter gleefully.

Amongst the sound of the simmering coal, I watched my niece gaze predatorily focused at the cooking red meat.

"Shina-chan, have you been well? I've been a bit sick the last few days so I didn't have time to visit you."

I asked watching her grab the food quickly with her chopsticks as she began gobbling her share.

Reiko-chan also gently got hers as well and added mine to my plate as I nodded in appreciation.

"Yeah, I don't mind. I'm doing good. Minato-kun's been treating me real well, Dattebane! He visited me just before I saw you and Reiko-chan!*nom nom*"

Kushina replied as she ate relentlessly with that appetite she inherited from my sister.

But hearing the name Minato, my eyes couldn't help but twitch.

"Namikaze Minato? That boy that's always following you around? What did he want?"

I inquired feeling annoyance in my core. I've known long enough that we'll end up at the point of her life where we'll end up talking about this but to think I'm still not ready.

"Huh? Nothing much. He just greeted cause' I just returned from my mission, Dattebane. It's nothing odd. We're married anyw-...dammit."

She answered but then stopped as she seemingly realized her slip of the tongue.

"Married!? Ya' and that halfwit blondie!?"

I shouted as I couldn't help my raging surprise.

"Hey Jiji! It isn't my fault you were on a sick day for a month and that numbskull Tetsuo was too scared of me to talk to me, Dattebane!! I was worried, Dattebane!"

She replied as she stood up angrily as I slumped on my chair.

Far past the point of that conversation...

She married-...

And I didn't hear a word. Tetsuo, that brat's getting a mouthful when I get home!

Gazing beside me at Reiko, my granddaughter, she gave a look saying don't look at me he didn't tell me either as she put some of the meat in her mouth.

I felt my heart thump and tremble..

Dear sister... I have failed you ..

To think she ended up entranced by that blundering bloke without me knowing!

"You don't have to worry, Dattebane. Jiji I promise you dattebane. He treats me well. If you get to know him, I think you'll end up liking him dattebane.

Kushina reasoned as she sat down once more and gulped her food wildy.

That look in her eyes...

I suppose she's telling the truth..

I'll try to visit her sometime then.

"If that's what you say. I'll still visits you in your apartment and see it for myself though."

I told her as I let Reiko put a bit of meat in my mouth a delicious juicy taste as I smiled at her gently.

"Oh about that! I forgot to tell you another thing."

Kushina said mouth still gobbling her food.

What she said next made me feel like my sister sent out thunder from the heavens.