Reiko pov

I'm gonna fail again aren't I?..

Despite thinking that, I found myself looking at the loud streets of Konohagakure as Ojii-chan and I walked.

Suddenly I heard a voice call out to Ojii-chan as I watched barely even understanding what was happening.

Ojii-chan suddenly bent down in pain before I could even react or even...

See it...

Coming to him hurriedly wondering if he was okay, he suddenly chuckled.

Despite being kicked, Ojii-chan seemed completely fine...

He's even smiling.

So this is what a real shinobi is like...

Gazing to my left I looked at the crimson haired woman as she grinned at Ojii-chan.

But then suddenly she fell to the floor as she laughed with Ojii-chan.

Kushina Uzumaki...

The only familiar character I've met...

Ojii-chan says she's a distant relative. Although because of Kyuubi my Oto-san is against staying even near her.

I could hear their conversation but it seems they've slightly forgotten I was there.

I could only watch in silence in awe at the scene.

So this is how true Shinobi act. I feel completely out of place...

I felt Kushina's chakra suffocate the area but turn down quickly as she ran quicker then a cheetah.

In the end the only word I got out of the conversation was to remind Ojii-chan that we needed to get going.

As we went forward, I couldn't help but think.

They moved so fast...

I felt like I was moving in slow motion..

I didn't even have time to process what was happening until it was done.

So this is the effect of chakra...

It makes Shinobi nearly like superhumans..

A state I'll never reach..

If even for simple movements like this Shinobi use chakra...

How could I even ever hope to be one?

Kushina...

Despite being from the same clan even if she's a jinchuriki I can never reach that level of power...

I didn't feel it much but even just a second of her chakra felt..

Completely frightening.

So this is the power of chakra.

I thought as I watched that person gobble the grilling meat wildly.

Listening to their conversation, I've heard rumors... seems like she's recently married Minato..

I felt myself shiver at the thought.

Uzumaki Naruto will be born soon-..

Then the Kyuubi will destroy Konoha..

I remembered as I absent mindedly placed the meat on Ojii-chan's plate.

I was far too absorbed in my own worries to care about their conversation.

The story will soon start...

Perhaps after the war...the child of prophecy will be born...

And all trouble will start raining down..

And me...

What am I even gonna do!?

I don't have chakra... I can't be a shinobi...

I-i...

Don't want to die!!

I've never heard of a relative that Naruto had in the story.

Wait-...

Does that mean I'll die before he's born??..

Okay... let's not overthink this..

Grabbing a piece of meat in my chopsticks as I placed it in Ojii-chan's mouth, I drowned in my mind even more.

Well, whatever happened or will...

It's best I prepare...

I gotta make sure Oto-san and Ojii-chan are safe from Kyuubi.

Dammit we live just a bit closer to the border where the clans live..

Perhaps I should convince Ojii-chan to move somewhere else?

I'll just say that it isn't appropriate for us to stay in the Shinobi area since I've decided to give up on trying to be a shinobi...

It'll be a little safer for us on the civilian side especially near the outskirts.

No...no.. where did the Kyuubi even go out..

The outskirts or in the center of the village!?

Dammit I hate details...

I don't have a clue what to do ...

"Reiko-chan, is there something wrong? You're not eating?"

I heard a munching female voice call to me.

Startled as I dropped my chopsticks, I looked at the crimson haired woman as she gazed worriedly.

"Uhhh, it's nothing Kushina-san. I just remembered something I forgot at home."

I said as I put some meat in my mouth.

She gazed at me suspiciously with her violet eyes as went closer to me..

Dammit...I can't tell her that it's because your Kyuubi neighbor is gonna kill us in the future..

I wanted special preparations..

I'd look crazy!!

Straightening my gaze as I ate the meat in my mouth I smiled at her hoping to ease the atmosphere.

She continued to stare at me intensely.

Come on... just give in this once..

Her chakra's starting to come out...

How much longer can I keep this expression.

I'm the end she suddenly sighed as she went back to her seat.

She stayed quiet to my relief.

Phew ..

" It's about your hair isn't it?"

Kushina said suddenly.

"Uh-..wha-"

"Hey! If anyone dares call you a spring tomato, dattebane remind them who your aunt is dammit! I'll show them what the red hot habanero s'famous for, Dattebane!!"

I replied confusedly not understanding her words but she interrupted me with her rather eager proclamation.

Nonetheless, I'd rather have her think it was something like that than something else so I ended up nodding as I thanked her softly.

Thank heavens she was never the sharpest tool in the shed...

As for Ojii-chan on the other hand. He looked at me but fortunately he seemed to have decided I didn't want to talk about it.

Let's just hope he doesn't come to bite when I'm off guard as we get home.

I said to myself as I opened my mouth and felt the tender juicy delicious meat in my tongue.

Well...for now let's just enjoy the moment!

Mmmmmmm!!~

Oishiii!!

...

Kushina pov

I looked at the night sky as I waved Jiji and Reiko-chan goodbye.

After my mission's failure, it's good that I met them.

I don't see Jiji much but I'm really glad he looks out for me when he can.

After Uzoshio's destruction, I've always wanted to meet my family again even if nearly half of them are likely dead.

I can't say that I wasn't crying my eyes out when I found Jiji and Tetsuo-kun even if he wants nothing to do with me.

It was sad I couldn't see him for years since Jiji had a coma and Nene-Obaasan thought against letting me see how he was.

She told she didn't want me to worry about him too much and to just continue my studies at the Academy.

Although when I left I heard her because of my jinchuriki advanced hearing..

the real truth...

"I can't have that monster using my niece's face near my husband!"

I heard her say to young Tetsuo.

It felt heartbreaking but it wasn't anything new..

Mito-sama did say being a jinchuriki wasn't going to be easy...

Nonetheless I cried myself to sleep that night.

They were the only family I had left ..

To think that all they saw was the Kyuubi!

To think they saw me as monster..

When they used to come to Okaa-sama's house and eat at the same table..

It took years then that passed to the point that sometimes I forget they even lived in Konoha.

I still tried visiting once in a while. Even if they didn't like me, I found the thought that I still had a bit of a family somewhere a little comforting than from when I thought they were all dead.

I can't exactly deny how happy I was when Jiji woke up.

At first he barely responded to me in the hospital bed...

The nurses said it's because it's just been years since he woke up from his coma so he needed more time to recover.

I visited him for 5 years. I ended realizing perhaps he didn't like me around either but...

One day when I decided to visit despite knowing how unwelcome I was there he called me...

In the nickname I've longed to hear for so long...

"Shina-chan! Come! Look at her!"

He said smiling cheerfully at me as he gazed in that warm gaze I've been longing for so long.

I ended up in tears.

"Shina-chan! Why are you crying? You're mother would be mad at me if you keep up such a face! Are you ok?"

He said as he gazed at me worriedly.

For the first time in years I felt like I was at home...

Back at Uzoshio... before I was a jinchuriki...

I felt welcomed...

I felt like I had a family...

"Nothing Jiji! I'm just really glad to see you! Dattebane!"

I told him as my tears fell like waterfalls. How embarrassing..

"Now, now come here! Cheer up! We don't want Reiko-chan to cry too, do we?"

Jiji urged me to come closer.

In his arms I saw a young bundle of joy huddled deeply in the old man's arms...

"Shina-chan meet Reiko-chan! Your niece! My adorable granddaughter!"

He exclaimed as I looked a the tan skinned doe eyed new born as her tiny crimson hairs lit in the afternoon light smiling at me.

"She's lovely Jiji!!"

I said as I went closer looking at the little Uzumaki.

I see...

So this what brought Jiji back to life...

Since waking up he felt like a dead man...

I was glad to see the man my mother took me to train with when I was little..

Seeing a semble of the past I missed so much...

But I was devastated to see the husk of the man he once was as he drowned himself in guilt for being the only survivor from Uzoshio's demise.

Jiji used to be snarky. He was snazzy because he was Uzoshio's diplomat but he hardly ever held his tongue anyway.

He often did stupid tricks on me when we trained but I can't say I didn't love the guy.

After seeing that dead like stare, I thought he was lost forever.

As the old man, reached the infant to me I felt myself smile.

Little Reiko-chan, thanks for bringing Jiji back to life... dattebane...

For the first time since I was a child I didn't feel like a complete orphan.

I had family.

"Kawaii!!"

I shouted as I twirled the lovely little thing around.

"Shina-chan! Careful you might drop her!"

I heard Jiji say as he chuckled throwing a book at me as I dodged.

Yeah that's the old Jiji I know...

"Can't catch me! Dattebane! I've grown since last time Jiji! There's no way I'll let my guard down this time. Dattebane! My grip's really strong now to-.."

I said as I twirled the child only to be hit by force suddenly as I stumbled only to see myself looking at my older cousin.

"Tetsuo! What's wrong with you! It's just Kushina! Apologize to her!"

Jiji scolded Tetsuo as my cousin gazed at me in fear trembling as he held little Reiko-chan.

Well...I almost forgot...I don't think this guy will ever change...

Nene-Obaasan's passed away years ago but they've already hated me for years.

"Shina-chan, I'm sorry about him. He's just protective since it's his first time as a father."

The old man reasoned as he gazed at me worriedly.

"It's fine, dattebane! I should've been more careful with Reiko-chan dattebane! I'll be going I just wanted to drop some fruit I bought today, Jiji!"

I told him as I placed the fruit basket and waved him goodbye with a smile.

I look ..

Pathetic...to think I ended up this desperate..

I should've punched that stupid Tetsuo in the guts.

But ...

I don't think Jiji would like that very much...

I'll do it when Jiji's not there then!

It isn't perfect..

But I'm glad I continued visiting him...

Atleast I got to know that I still had family left here...in Konoha...

I can't exactly say it isn't comforting...