The Testament of True Warriors – Fiery Red Hair

Uzu no Kuni – Uzushiogakure no Sato – Kaizen and Aiko's Bar – 2230 Hours

The soft, yet blasting rock music streamed through the circular speakers above Uzumaki Kenshin's head, his hand reflexively holding the swinging door for a young older couple who already looked intoxicated, judging by the shrill giggles and groping hands. He snickered, allowing them to pass by while the woman winked suggestively at him.

The twenty-one year-old Whirlpool Shinobi sighed as the wood creaked underneath his steps, his strides treading toward the packed bar where the familiar form of Kaizen wiping down the shining counter slid into his peripheral view. Kaizen was a burly husband of Aiko and owner of the most established bar in Uzushio – he was also a close friend of Kenshin, having once been in a Chunin squad together. "Ohayo, Kai," he slid out a stool with his foot and plopped himself down unceremoniously.

Kaizen allowed a brief grin to slip on his chiseled face. "Kenshin, man, it's been awhile!" He reached across the counter and gently cuffed the active ninja across the head. Kaizen reached down and grabbed a Sake bottle from the refrigerated area underneath the bar, veering the canteen toward him. "It's on the house, boy. Heard about Masaru's promotion to ANBU, tough day?"

Kenshin glowered comically and scowled with resentment toward the word 'ANBU'. "Brat doesn't know what he's getting himself into." He pulled the cap of the bottle off with his teeth and took a long, burning swig. "He thinks it all that superiority and powerful shit, but when he receives his first mission I am going to throw all caution to the wind . . ."

Kaizen draped the white dish towel across his broad shoulder. "Gonna beat him? Or ya going to show him what ANBU mission actually are?"

Kenshin shook his head. "I purposely waited to be placed on a Genin team for two years so that I could protect Masaru . . . Kai, I'm a fucking coddler. No . . . I'm going to let Tousen drill him to death, but I'm not going to be there when he comes back broken."

"Harsh," Kaizen winced with sympathy toward his friend. Without any delay toward the serious intent of their conversation, a sudden bark of laughter drifted from the entry to the busy bar and Kaizen flashed a strained smirk toward the male Shinobi entering. "Ah! Boys, good to see you again! Have a seat anywhere!"

Kenshin frowned toward his comrades. Almost each of them had women hanging off their arms, maybe two of the mix was Kunoichi but the other females were unmistakably prostitutes; judging by their massive busts and revealing clothing. He didn't necessarily dislike Shinobi who sauntered around with them, it was a stress relief remedy to drink and have all-nighters with willing women. But when drinking heavily, and having a woman pressing herself against you, demanding to see how high-ranking and powerful you were, his comrades immediately turned into rude jackasses.

All of these men, by records, were High Chunin with C- and occasional B- Rank missions. How funny.

Kenshin took another extended drink of the alcoholic beverage in his hand, appreciating the torrid feeling of the liquid. "Where's Aiko, Kai?"

"Ah," Kaizen's smile was grim, "you know how she feels about being a Kunoichi. She's on a B-Rank mission right now . . ."

Kenshin decided to drop the topic on that, mostly because a new noise distracted him. Behind Kaizen, toward to where another swinging door to the storage and freezer room in the back, swung open by a human silhouette. He narrowed his eyes at the unfamiliar back that greeted his vision, the obvious short female pursing her lips at the large crate of spirituous drinks. As she struggled to lift them up on the smooth counter, Kenshin studied her. She was only five-foot-five, wearing a loose mesh shirt that was styles as a tank top; her pants were light grey and were tucked into Shinobi sandals.

Strange, he thought, she doesn't look or act like a Kunoichi. And she really didn't. Ninja were graceful and confident on their feet, while this woman easily stumbled and kept casting around uneasy glances.

Kaizen, having just served another shot, noticed where his eyes lead to. "Oh my. Masami! Please go refresh my Shinobi guest with some drinks, will ya?" He seemed a bit reluctant in commanding her as his newly employed barmaid, but she sent him a small smile and dusted off her hands against her jeans as she began walking toward the group of low-Ranking Shinobi and Kunoichi.

As she began questioning the patrons for their choice of refreshment, Kenshin leaned forward on his elbows and whistled, gaining Kaizen's distracted attention from a civilian couple he'd been discussing something trivial with. "Ey, Kai, who's the lady?" He was certain to keep his tone polite and disinterested, though the curiosity clearly gleamed in his dark blue eyes.

Kaizen grinned. "Ah, you're talking about Masami-Chan? She's Aiko-Hime's younger sister . . . looks like her, huh?" She really did . . . The long curly black hair and emerald green eyes shone in contrast to most Uzumakis, even if she wasn't one of blood. Aiko was an older version of Masami, with stray stripes of gray, revealing her age, and laughing lines around her eyes and mouth.

"What made you hire her?"

". . . I'm not really at liberty to tell you that, Sempai . . ."

It was strange for someone of Kaizen's age to call him superior. Kenshin shrugged off from Kai dismissing his simple question. Maybe it was a personal response. Perhaps Masami had been homeless, maybe it was too embarrassing to mention – it was really none of his business.

Kenshin was obtaining another long drink of Sake just as a hand clamped down on his shoulder, a familiar slender body pressing against his back as another arm was thrown over his. Kumiko laid her head against her arm on his shoulder, dark blue eyes glittering in the dim lighting of the bar. "Kennnnnnn~," she sang. There was a long pause of no movement before he felt something wallop him across the head. "You sick bastard, you! What were you thinking?!" Kumiko completely ignored his blatant attempts at mumbling out sincere excuses, bouncing herself onto the bar top and sitting in front of him.

"How'd you get in here?" He asked blankly, already knowing how the nineteen year-old snuck inside.

"You let Masaru join ANBU!" She exploded.

"Don't speak so freely, Kumiko. You know enlisting is Foundation classified, so shut the hell up," he attempted to take another drink, but his former Genin teammate snatched it from his hands. "Kumiko," he growled in warning.

"Oh 'shut the hell up'," she mocked in a horrible interpretation of his voice, "you're lucky that I wasn't there finding out, asshole! How could you do that to him! You were one of the youngest ANBU Captains and now look at you! Will that happen to him? Huh? Huh?"

". . . Are you insulting me?"

"No, I'm saying you have no sense of humor. Are you even an Uzumaki?"

"Tousen hasn't told me otherwise . . ."

Kumiko scoffed into the air. She was currently off-duty after an A-Rank mission; her dark brown hair was pinned up into a nondescript bun, strands hanging around her irritated face. She was wearing what was normal in Kumiko's standards, dark blue Shinobi pants and a black mesh shirt, which was easily like a second-layer of skin. Her pants were tucked into knee-high black Shinobi boots, an article of her outfit that Masaru always commented on: "Those are hooker shoes." "That's sexy, Kumi." Or Kenshin's personal favorite: "Show those to the enemy, I'm sure he'll pay a hefty price for you with those boots on."

"Ken, I'm being serious . . . Masaru isn't strong enough . . ." Kumiko crossed her arms and frowned sullenly. "I won't get to see him anymore, why is he doing this?"

He opened his mouth to answer with another boring excuse, but a sound and shatter of glass snapped his attention elsewhere. The woman, Masami, was bearing a stunned and furious expression, one of the Chunin arms wrapped around her hips as he forced her down onto his lap. Her tray of drinks had been scattered along the floor into shards and liquor. The unit of Chunin was roaring with laughter while Masami flushed with anger and infuriation. "Get off me you pig!" She shouted, turning around to slap the man across the face with as much strength as she had.

But she didn't haft to.

Kenshin, hands shoved in his pockets, stood at attention in front of the table. The bar had gone deftly quiet, even the wasted couple and fake-ID teenagers in the very back. "Chunin have always been a pain in my ass," he lolled his head back on his shoulders and cracked a few strained muscles.

The Chunin all began to sweat and grow weakly pale at seeing the person in front of them. "J-Jounin Commander," one of the Kunoichi gasped in fear. As if in all in sync, the five Shinobi and Kunoichi all stood up in unison and saluted to their superior.

Kenshin rubbed the back of his head, giving them all disinterested stares. "I don't tolerate this behavior from my Ninja. You all will be written up with a six month extension. Seriously, guys, if you can't act civil toward civilians, then I advise you not to go out into public." He waved his hand carelessly. "Leave before I make it a year extension."

And they did as he commanded, bolting and knocking over a chair or two on their way out of the bar.

Masami was running a hand through her curly black hair, sending him an appraising look as she began picking up the broken glass that had dropped from her grasp. "I could have handled that myself."

Kumiko, who was now standing beside Kenshin with a wicked smirk, spoke, "well that was amusing to watch. Never seen Kouto look so scared before, Kenshin."

"Well after what Naomi did to him in that spar yesterday, I would say I'm more comparable to a soft bunny rabbit," Kenshin dead-panned at his close friend, sending her a vacant expression that held no humor toward his 'hilarious' statement – which she laughed giddily at, to his bemusement. He wasn't trying to be funny . . . at all.

"Oh, you're so funny, Ken-Kun!" Kumiko giggled.

"Yeah, well by me more bottles sake and I'll make more funny jokes."

Nami no Kuni - Boating Docks - 1100 Hours

The blare of a ship's horn drowned out Uzumaki Kenshin's current thoughts. He was still coming to terms of two, highly foreboding aspects; one, Uzushiogakure no Sato was gone, completely obliterated off the map of the Elemental Nations; two, he had just came to know that eleven years had come to pass. It has been eleven fucking years of him being under the confinement of the seal. Kenshin did not even know he could be confined that long! And not to mention he hadn't aged a day, he was still twenty-five, with the wild mane of crimson hair and chiseled cheekbones.

Stepping weakly onto the pier of the docks, Kenshin cursed his luck. His body was more than weak; it was as if he had slept for a decade, no pun there. Not to mention that his clothes were fairly antiquated in this time and present, so wearing Samurai-styled flak jackets caused him many disgruntle, too-curious glances.

Kenshin roamed off the wooden dock and frowned, scanning the area. It was lively for a fishermen and trade networking town, with buzzing people and little kids running circles around their mothers at the humble shopping markets. For a rainy island, it saddened Kenshin to realize that this place slightly reminded him of Uzu no Kuni – it wasn't the same, never the same, but it held a fraction of what Uzushio used to be.

"Uhh . . . Son, are you alright?"

Kenshin flickered his dark blue eyes toward a man that looked to be in his middle-forties. The man was perhaps five-foot-eleven in height with black hair and gray streaks running through his mane, signaling his aging years. He was wearing a sleeveless dark shirt and plain shorts, a straw hat on his head to shield his weather-beaten face from the heated sun. The glasses the man wore reflected on a ray of sunlight as he smiled at Kenshin.

"A little tired, but I can't complain." I could actually complain a lot. "Why do you ask?"

The man raised his eyebrows before eyeing Kenshin's attire and fiery red hair. "Uhh, no reason," he coughed. He held out a hand. "The name's Tazuna, kid. And I could say without a doubt that you are not from around here."

He rubbed the back of his head with his left hand using his right to grasp and shake the older man's hand. "Kenshin. Nice to meet you." He glimpsed down at his red flak jacket and crimson steel-plated armor. "Um, Tazuna-San, may I ask where I can buy some clothes?" Right on cue, his stomach growled ferociously. "And some food?"

He began to neglect the fact that he had no money with him whatsoever, having it been destroyed eleven years prior. Tazuna somehow saw that as well. "You know what? I think you look to be about my son's size. He went off to Konoha for work, left a lot of stuff – how about you come back to my house, and I will offer you a hot meal with no costs?"

Kenshin's eyes softened briefly as he shifted uncomfortably. "That's a very hefty offer, Tazuna . . . How do you know I'm not some ninja who's only looking for trouble?"

Tazuna barked out a laugh as he clapped Kenshin on the back. "All ninja look for trouble, son. I can just see the good ones at heart," he winked. "Come on, follow me."

Kenshin was lead through the small port in Nami no Kuni. He made sure to examine the hunter green trees and vivid blue sky, watching purposelessly as birds, butterflies, and bees soared by his peripheral vision and off into another direction. He heard chatter through the shopping district, where adults conversed with family friends and children giggled at another children. It was a sight that would never get too old in his eyes.

The house that Tazuna was leading him to was two stories. It was framed like a hut of sorts, rickety porch with wooden beams supporting the thin ceiling. What caught Kenshin's attention was the beautiful, wild garden growing directly beside the house. He could even see brightly colored flowers and vines snaking up the right of the building. He wasn't exactly certain if it was a vegetable garden, but judging by the basket of fresh fruit and other lumpy colored shapes, he had to guess that it was.

"Tsunami! I have a guest staying for the night, get out here!" Tazuna called, his eyes narrowed in on toward the fenced garden.

A fifteen year-old girl came bounding out, clad in a pink dress that swept down to her knees. She was pretty with a heart-shaped face, onyx eyes curious and long dark blue hair swept into a high ponytail. "Tou-San, Mira dropped off a bottle of sake like you had ordered . . ." Tsunami trailed off when she caught sight of the six-foot-two redhead and almost immediately the basket that had been in her arms dropped to the ground, sending fruit and vegetables scattering. "Oh my God!" She screamed, almost horrified.

Kenshin's eyes were wide. Tazuna frowned. "Tsunami . . . That's not very polite."

She ignored him and trembled where she stood. "Y-You . . . U-Uzumaki? Kenshin!?"

Kenshin furrowed his eyebrows at the terrified tone she used, as if he was some ghost raised from the ground – which, wasn't exactly far from validity. He didn't even know how this girl could even know him, because she would have been only four when he had actually been 'alive' – in a sense – in his precedent time. Kenshin grimaced and glanced around the area once. "Um, do I know you, miss?" I'm positive that I do not.

Tsunami had tears glittering in her obsidian eyes as she scanned the shopping district behind the two men, her panicked expression telling him that she was searching for someone. She bust forward and grabbed his calloused, larger hand, dragging him forward toward the wooden entryway. "Come quickly!" Tsunami ushered, her smaller figure becoming dwarfed by his broad posture.

As Tazuna pursued them into the two-story building, he slammed the door shut behind him and threw his straw-hat on top of the square-shaped kitchen table. "Tsunami, I think you have some explanations for me."

"I know, Tou-San – just let me get this straightened out!" Tsunami dropped Kenshin's hand and locked eyes with him. "You . . . are Uzumaki Kenshin, right?"

"I am," he frowned.

"How?"

"Pardon?"

"You are supposed to be dead!" Tsunami shifted backwards as if frightened of him, which he found amusing since she had invited him into her home. "There's no way! All of the Uzumakis' died in the Second Shinobi World War!"

Kenshin felt his heart clench with the memory of his clans members that had loyally died for the sake of their Village. "Seals are capable of anything, girl." He crossed his arms, if anyone around actually knew him; they would be able to tell that Kenshin only crossed his arms when in an uncomfortable situation. Like right then.

Tsunami swallowed thickly in her throat. "I-Is that why you haven't aged?"

Kenshin winced before dangerously narrowing his eyes. "How do you know all of this? How do you know I wasn't fourteen at that time?" Alert bells were chiming in his ears.

"By . . . By, uhh, Yamanashi Masami . . ."

You know how people say that when you hear something so shocking that you felt like your heart just stops, as if the oxygen was sucked out from your lungs? Kenshin staggered backward at the familiar name and grimaced when the edge of the countertop dug into his lower-back. Masami . . .

. . . Soft laughter run in his ears, the gently melody soothing down his usual haywire nerves. The lights of the apartment were off, but the curtain to their right had been swept open, allowing moonlight to beam and provide a dim source of light.

Kenshin was propped up on his elbow, a sheet sliding against his bare side and skin. His other hand was brushing a stray black curly away from his wife's still slightly flushed face from what they had just accomplished. A thin coat of sweat gathered at her collarbone and Kenshin grinned at her with a taunting expression. "What can you say now, Masami, huh? Where's the sneer and comment of 'virginal inexperience'?"

She made a face. "Shut up and kiss me."

He chuckled before shifting his weight, using his forearm to now brace himself above her. Kenshin leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss against her lips, sighing blissfully in his mind as she wrapped her arms around his neck and her chest pressed against his. "I could get used to this y'know," he mumbled against her lips, his mouth beginning to curl into a smirk.

"Don't get cocky, Uzumaki . . ."

"Oh, we just got plenty of cocky, Masami. Like three minutes ago." Kenshin laughed lightly as she blushed. Dating for a year and a half and teasing Masami was still as fun as he had first met her in Kaizen and Aiko's Bar. "Oh, did I make little Masami-Chan blush like a schoolgirl? And I thought we were adults too – Ow!" He swore vividly when she grabbed his hair and jerked his head. "Owie. Honey, that was awfully rude."

"You're rude!"

"Your ability at conjuring inspiring comebacks at the moment astounds me. I congratulate you." Kenshin snickered when she stuck her tongue out at him, her nose still centimeters away since her arms were currently still looped around his neck. His dark blue eyes softened. "You're beautiful, you know that, right?"

She kissed him and made a point of wrapping her legs back around his waist, which he knew she was beginning to enjoy since she came to find what occurred each time she did so afterwards. "I've been told a few times, by several different men."

"Oh? Did those several different men do this?"

No words could describe the harmony noise that followed thereupon . . .

. . . Kenshin pursed his lips and leaned back, trying to swallow down the fact that when Tsunami said Masami, she hadn't said Uzumaki Masami, but rather Yamanashi Masami.

It had been a fact that Kenshin knew he would have had to come to terms with. An hour before Masaru had begun the process of conducting the Confinement Seal; he had practically paced his legs strained about how he could live with the fact that Masami would more than likely have a husband . . . and kids. Kids she had always wanted. It was ironic, really, how Kenshin had never wanted children. Ever. He felt uncomfortable around them, and just liked to avoid the giggles and drooling face as much as he can. But Masami adored them, adored their screaming, chaotic ways. It seemed that Kami had granted her wish, even if it had been with loss and pain.

"Wow," Kenshin closed his eyes and took in a deep breath; gradually exhaling so his mind would slow down and think rationally. "I'm actually taking this better than I had expected. It's not every day you wake up eleven years under a Seal and find out that your wife is thirty-five, with kids and a husband no less."

Tsunami looked heartbroken as if she had just read this in a poorly-written romance novel. "B-But she told me that you told her to find a husband and kids afterwards . . ."

"Yeah, she also told me it was cliché." Kenshin eyed the faded wooden floor before darting his eyes to the other male in the room. "I'm sure your confused, Tazuna-San –"

"Confused! I just found out that the man I brought to my home is a fucking Uzumaki! The Sixth Seal of Uzushio! I am more than confused!"

Kenshin's eyebrows quirked upwards. "You know of me?"

"Well," Tazuna ran a hand through his streaked hair, "I'm old enough to remember the legendary Fūinjutsu master of Uzushio. I mean, people used to tell stories of your accomplished battles."

Kenshin frowned at that. He had no idea. It wasn't as if he wanted fame as a Shinobi, he did what he could accomplish skillfully in battle and that was that. What could people possibly tell in stories about him? 'Oh! He used a storage seal saturated of water since he could sense electrical frequencies in the air. Unleashing it, the liquid and discharges clashed and a whole battalion of Suna-nin were electrified until their meat was all nice and crispy, yum.' He shook his head at his own thoughts, he needed sleep, badly.

He flicked his eyes downwards slightly to see Tsunami eyeing him tearfully. "I-I think you should know, Uzumaki-san, that – ugh, Masami is here."

Kenshin felt his insides grow cold, yet somehow his heart burned and began beating far faster than normal. "Where?" He demanded, but then fell short from walking towards the doorway from where he had entered. He couldn't just go barging and taking Masami away, she was a grown woman, happily married, with kids. "Ugh, fuck," he growled.

Tazuna glared at him for swearing vividly in front of his daughter, but nonetheless glided out one of the metal chairs and perched himself heavily atop with a sigh. "Well, I don't know about you, but I am famished. Tsunami, dear, would you care to heat up some leftover Yakitori from dinner last night?"

Tsunami brightened instantly at the mentioning of food. Kenshin dragged out his own dining table chair and slumped on it as he glowered. He really wished Tsunami wouldn't hum as she got out the leftovers, or that she wouldn't pull her long hair back with a ribbon that had been tied around her wrist. Kenshin knew without delay that Masami must have taught Tsunami how to cook.

He immediately took a cup of Sake from Tazuna as he poured them a drink, chugging it down his throat while disregarding that familiar pleasurable scorch it left. "Ahh, Kami, almost forgot what Sake tasted like. Tazuna, this is good stuff, where'd you get it?"

"Ta no Kuni (Land of Rice Fields)," Tazuna spoke proudly as he held up his white, cylinder-shaped cup to clink together with Kenshin's.

He poured himself another round before granting cheers with a small grunt, taking another, alcohol-induced drink. "Best place to get it, huh? It's nice."

"Thanks, Uzumaki. And please – take off that crap you're wearing, you're making me sweat just by looking at you."

Kenshin began undoing his red Jounin vest, allowing it to slide off his shoulders. The undershirt he was wearing was long-sleeved and dark blue, a large crimson spiral printed on his torso. He carefully tugged off his boots stretched out his legs with a pained grimace, his sore muscles contracted uncomfortable while he attempted to loosen his tense tendons. "So, Tazuna-San, as you have received, I've been idle for the last eleven years – would you please tell me what's happened since then? Spare me on the details for now."

Tazuna took another guzzle of booze in his hand. "Well, for one, the Second Shinobi World War ended about a year after Uzushio was knocked off the grid," Kenshin visibly winced at those words. "During that time, Konoha has risen in famed ninja I tell ya, that's a place nobody wants to tussle with."

Kenshin leaned back in his seat and folded his arms across his chest. "Really? Who?"

"Densetsu no Sannin, the Legendary Three Ninja. They received their nickname from Hanzō, that Salamander guy, during a skirmish with Amegakure. I don't know much about it, really, but their names our: Senju Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. The Tsunade woman," Tazuna winked and whispered dramatically, "is hot. She's known as the world's greatest medical-nin and can summon slugs!" The older man made an "Atta!" sound when Tsunami suddenly whacked him in the head with a spoon, scowling at his crude behavior toward the female race.

Kenshin rolled his eyes. "And the other two?"

"This Jiraiya can summon Toads and the other one can summon Snakes."

"Is that all that occurred in the Second war?"

Tazuna poured himself another drink, also doing a courteous deed of replenishing Kenshin's as well. "Nah, there's this other guy, Hatake Sakumo. He's known as the Konoha no Shiroi Kiba(Konoha's White Fang). Got his moniker from Raiton Jutsu and some type of blade, I think. To sum it up, Konoha, Ame, Iwa, and Suna kicked each other ass until the armistice treaty was formed."

"Wow," Kenshin said leisurely. "Y'know who formed it?"

"Nah, Nami wasn't involved in the war, I didn't pay much attention."

A plate of steaming, barbeque flavored skewered chicken was placed in front of him, as well another bottle of Sake. The chicken was placed on a bed of spiced rice, which was causing drool to pool on Kenshin's tongue. He groaned as he took his first bite. "Tsunami-San this is amazing." He chewed gradually as if he could savor each flavor that rolled across his tongue.

She beamed with delight at his statement as she gathered her own plate and sat across from him, beside her father. Tsunami placed her hands together and bowed, "Itadakimasu," before grabbing her chopsticks and eating a clump of white rice.

Kenshin frowned. "How much time did you spend with Masami, Tsunami?" He already knew the answer to that, really.

She swallowed her food. "After – ugh – well, Masami had made good friends with my mother, but Kaa-San had refused to tell Masami about her cancer because she didn't want to be treated with pity. So, um, after my mom died when I was five, and after a year of Masami living here, she kind of taught me how to cook, clean, write, read, all of that stuff."

"Like a mother would," he smiled fondly. "She had kids? Plural?"

"Three. Rino, Tina, and . . . K-Kenshin."

He felt himself stiffen in his seat and suddenly food didn't sound too appealing anymore. Kenshin balanced his elbow on the table and leant forward into his hand, covering his misted eyes as he sucked in a tight breath. "To be expected," he croaked. "D-Do you mind if I sleep here for the night?"

"Of course not," Tazuna was looking at him with pity.

Tsunami brushed her hands off on the sides of her dress before standing. "I'll show you to the guest's room. Follow me." She gently took his elbow and steered him a set of stairs toward a shut room at the end of the hallway. "This is one of the bigger bedrooms, there's a private bathroom and Tsubasa-nii-san should have some extra clothes in those drawers." The room was wide, completely with a full bed, a set of dressers, and a desk at the corner in front of some horizontal slider windows.

"Thank you," Kenshin whispered.

Tsunami gave his arm a brief, comforting squeeze before leaving him to walk with grief toward the bathroom. He stripped to his boxers and stared at himself in front of the mirror above the small sink. His chest, stomach, back, and arms were littered with black swirls, signaling the Confinement Seal that had been drawn on his skin. He hadn't thought that it would be permanent, but that it didn't surprise him that it was. Most high-Ranked Seals that were conducted would be perennial against most surfaces.

Ridding himself of his boxers and turning on the shower, Kenshin stepped under the scalding water and sighed with rapture. Despite his love for the ocean, there was nothing like hot water sinking into afflicted muscles. Washing his hair and applying soap to his skin, Kenshin stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist, searching through the dressers that belonged to Tsubasa.

He found a pair of black pants and a grey long-sleeve shirt before he hit the bed, not even bothering to lift the covers over him before sleep embraced his hazy mind.

Hi no Kuni – Black River – 0930 Hours

It was nearly three in the morning when Uzumaki Kenshin had declared that he should leave Nami no Kuni. His chest felt very heavy when he departed from the place where he knew Masami was situated, all he wanted to do was to hug her and just tell her how much he would miss her. But he knew he could not do that.

Kenshin walked languidly along the bank of the Black River, which was a branch of an extensive stream that ran all the way through Kawa no Kuni (Land of Rivers), and even along the borders of Suna. It was open around the river, giving him room to walk and enjoy the sights of the sunny sky and healthy grass.

. . . And also giving him the excruciating time to think.

When you're alone with the peaceful silence of nature, it allowed your mind wonder to subjects that you had purposely avoiding. Uzushio was destroyed . . . But did any other survivors escape? With a sense of dread, Kenshin knew wistful believing was useless and pathetic of him. But there had to be some survivors, Iwa was good, but they weren't that good.

Like a light bulb shattering into sparks of electricity, Kenshin felt his dark, cloudy eyes brighten with realization. Kushina! How could he forget about his niece, the second Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune? He grinned outwardly and felt hope beginning to leak back into his system. This, this was good. This was really good. Wait – holy shit! Kushina was what . . . she was twenty-four right now!

Kenshin was about to; well he thought about it, yell with joy – but a movement to the left of his vision halted him for doing so.

A group of men and women, about four in number, stumbled out of the foliage. Kenshin's eyes narrowed when he saw the Konoha Hitai-tae's tied around in their respective places: shoulder, forehead, neck, or even as to wear it as a belt. They were littered with scratches and even minor wounds that would quickly become lethal if they didn't seek out medical services. Their facial expressions mirrored fatigue and pain, as well as fear and even anger, which were directed at the man at the front of the four-cell group.

Kenshin was also a Shinobi, so he knew well that he couldn't just start waving and yelling out, "Ohayo, Leaf-ninjaaaasss!" because they would more than likely attempt to cut off his limbs, which wouldn't be good, since he was partially weak at the moment. Kenshin, instead, stuffed his hands into his 'borrowed' black trousers and waved a lazy hand as one of them finally took notice of him, saying casually, "Lovely morning isn't it?"

The leader, the one who had been the target of the angry stares, scrutinized him with obsidian narrowed eyes. Kenshin had easily toned down his chakra source (Uzumaki have large chakra reserves, most leveling Kage-level) to that of a civilian, making his posture relaxed and uncaring. But he also knew better, these Shinobi could probably tell he was a Shinobi, but they wouldn't mention anything in case he was an enemy, because he would more than likely 'attack' – inward scoff – them in their weakened state.

But Kenshin was also a sight for sore eyes. Fiery crimson hair that went every direction, dark blue eyes, mild tan skin, he was effortlessly an Uzumaki poster boy. And by the way the leader's eyes widened for the briefest of seconds, he was distinguished as an Uzumaki poster boy suspect. Which he was okay with, maybe this guy could lead him to Kushina . . .

. . . Or to an interrogation room in Konoha, which sounded violently 'fun' in its own right.

He took his time to study the leader, whose back was now as stiff as a wooden board. He was almost six feet, five-nine or five-ten, he wasn't sure. The man looked to be in his early to mid-thirties, at least. He had spiky, silver-colored hair with bangs that hung over his forehead protector and a ponytail that reached into the middle of his back. He wore a standard Konoha-nin uniform complete with a pair of gloves, green flak jacket, bandages on his right arm, and the addition of distinctive short white sleeve which had red edges and the standard crest of Uzushiogakure on it, which didn't surprise Kenshin. He also carried a holster worn diagonally over his right shoulder which held, what looked strangely like a white Tanto.

"Who are you?" The leader asked quietly, reserved as he attempted to seem intimidating though failed horribly when Kenshin smiled politely.

"The names Kenshin, ninja-san. And may I say that your team looks . . . tired. How long have you all been travelling?"

The leader tensed at that question and gained a guarded expression. "That's classified."

"Hmmm," Kenshin hummed as if he wasn't really interested. "Well, are you travelling back to Konoha? That's where I am headed as well."

The only female Kunoichi in the group snarled and palmed a kunai so fast that Kenshin had trouble following her movement. "What's your intention, scum? I'm a sensor ninja, you bastard, stop playing innocent like a bigot!" By the purple colored triangles on her cheeks and the wolf-sized dog by her side, she could be easily distinguished into a certain clan from Konoha.

Kenshin raised an eyebrow before allowing a brief chuckle to flow through the air. "If you insist, Konoha Kunoichi." He released his chakra and examined as they all tensed at his reserves. "I mean no harm to your home, there is just someone that I am hopeful to see again, that is all."

A tall boy, who looked only to be seventeen, six feet in height, shifted his feet into a relaxed stance, as if he recognized Kenshin as an ally and not a threatening enemy. "You are an Uzumaki." Despite Kenshin knowing that they probably would recognize his poster boy qualities, he was still surprised that someone would be blunt about it. But then again, Uzushio and Konoha were founders, and inveterate accomplices.

Kenshin gifted them with a knowing smile as he tugged at his crimson red hair. "How did you know? I swore I did everything to keep you from detecting my heritage."

The same man who declared his bloodline smirked wryly. "Well you kind of look just like Kushina." As the man spoke, Kenshin noticed certain aspects on his person. Mainly the most distinct feature was the weal-like scar on his face, running across the bridge of his nose and down across the left side of his face. Seeing the duration of it though, Kenshin could easily see that it had been there before he was even graduated as a Shinobi of Konoha.

"My name is Hatake Sakumo, Jounin of Konoha, registration 007339" the leader finally affirmed his identity, determining that he seemingly felt no hostile aura around the redheaded man.

Kenshin raised an eyebrow. He recalled Tazuna's words, 'Nah, there's this other guy, Hatake Sakumo. He's known as the Konoha no Shiroi Kiba(Konoha's White Fang). Got his moniker from Raiton Jutsu and some type of blade, I think.'

Well look at that, he mused silently with amusement.

The Kunoichi, who was being supported by an enraged looking man, muttered, "Inuzuka Tsubaki, Jounin of Konoha, registration 007657."

The scarred man raised a hand, "Namiashi Raidō, Tokubetsu Chunin of Konoha, registration 009717." The Uzumaki smiled at the 'special' part of the presentation. Special High Chunin? Elite, huh? That's interesting . . .

After the third member's introduction, there was a shaky, strained silence following exactly after. Kenshin saw Sakumo giving the fourth member, the man supporting Tsubaki, a guilty glare. "Ryo, present yourself."

Said 'Ryo' sneered and Kenshin saw the Inuzuka woman grimace when his arm tightened around her back. "Why should I even listen to you, Hatake? When we return home, you're going to be demoted lower than a Genin." Kenshin raised his eyebrows at the aggression and resentment fluctuating through the air like thick smoke before his eyes narrowed in thought. The mission they had been sent on obviously went wrong, and like always, the leader was to be blameworthy.

Sakumo stiffened, "I am your Captain on this mission, Ryo. Now present yourself." The words quickly shifted from guilty to harshness, causing the anger inspired man to psychically flinch and scowl sourly.

"Takashi Ryo, Jounin of Konoha, registration 011013." The man gritted out between his teeth, angling his face away from Kenshin.

Kenshin approached them with friendly intentions, a smile adorning his face. "Now," his eyes surveyed the wounds they had received on the 'classified' mission. "Does anyone know Medical Ninjutsu?"

Ryo sighed before nodding his head once. "I do, but I am depleted of chakra."

"That's good. That is why I asked, actually. Any of you have a brush, some ink, and a vacant tag?" Kenshin strolled a little ways toward Tsubaki and looked at the injury along her upper-thigh, which was crusted with a rusty brown and still dripping with fresh blood. "Oh, dear. How'd this happen to you, sweetheart?" She certainly looked like a capable Kunoichi and an Inuzuka no less.

The wolf-like ninken, who was the color of mahogany that matched the auburn color of the woman's hair, growled at him, ears flattening as it blinked ebony eyes in his direction. "Heel, Kaia." Tsubaki sent a stern glance at her partner, glaring until the female dog backed away, though still circled her tail around her master's ankle. Tsubaki revolved her menacing gaze to Kenshin at calling her 'sweetheart'. "Rock clipped me on the side," she muttered.

He nodded his thanks when Sakumo supplied a blank tag and brush with ink, gesturing for Ryo to set her on the ground gently. "A rock clipped you on the side, hmm? Perhaps something like Doton: Ganchūrō no Jutsu (Earth Release: Earth Pillar Prison)?" He winked when she gained a mystified expression, her eyes flickering to Sakumo with panic. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I know you all came from Iwa, you smell like dust and dirt, surely you know that?"

Tsubaki flushed uncharacteristically and mumbled, "I've been distracted . . ."

Kenshin began conducting a seal against the tag as he quirked a finger at Ryo. "Give me your hand." Finishing the kanji for Chakra, he smoothly arranged the tag above Ryo's wrist and gently touched the paper with his index and middle finger. "Tensō chakurashīru: Akutibu (Transfer Chakra Seal: Activate)." The elegant writing of the Seal glowed a luminous blue before the ink sunk through the paper and into the skin of the Jounin's hand.

Raidō was gaping in awe. "S-so you're an Fūinjutsu Master?"

Kenshin stilled before chuckling wistfully. "Yeah, they seem to be more uncommon these days, eh?" The same pain that lingered in his chest clutched at his heart. "The Chakra Transfer Seal is straightforward. The user of the Seal can receive conveyable chakra." Kenshin watched as Ryo went through hand seals. Modified Ox → Tiger. His hand glimmered a dim, weak blue. "A little warning, Ryo-san, my chakra is far more potent than most Shinobi's. I do have the Uzumaki bloodline for special chakra, just like little Kushina."

Kenshin placed his palm at the centermost of Ryo's back and observed solemnly as his hand glowed a brilliant, shady white. Though the color held a golden tint, he felt Ryo gasp and stiffen underneath his hand. But then he smiled as he began to heal Tsubaki's wound, the anger that had been prior evaporating. "I've only heard rumors of Kushina-san's Chakra Chains, but I had never felt it to be . . . this overpowering."

"Ooooh? Chakra Chains, neh? That sneaky little girl, she's just trying to grow up like her Uncle, she is!"

Sakumo had his arms crossed across his chest, studying the scene with interest. "Uncle? How old are you, Kenshin-san?"

"Physically? Twenty-five. Realism? Thirty-six." Sensing their confusion, Kenshin shrugged and provided Ryo with a bust of chakra. "It's a long and very uncomfortable story. The Sandaime Hokage still reigning?"

"Yeah." Tsubaki grinned with bliss at the feeling of her skin mending back together. "Fifty-five and still killing."

Raidō frowned, "I thought it was 'still kicking' not 'still killing'."

Tsubaki, her natural dog-like slitted eyes, cut to his. "We're Shinobi, Raidō, honey. You, a known Assassin, should have caught the joke."

"Yeah, well, as a known Assassin, we tend to not pick up on jokes, since we are usually busy with assassinating and stuff."

She bristled. "Did you just retaliate my joke with sarcasm, you little bastard?!"

"That I did, you old hag!"

Uzu no Kuni – Uzushiogakure no Sato – West Wing; Uzumaki Compound – 2130 Hours

"Ooooooohh, Kushi-Chaaaaannnnnnnnnn ~ I'll find you, you little cheeky brat!" Masaru's light, playful tone rung out through the west section of the Uzumaki Manor, causing Kushina to instinctively hide her giggles into the palms of her hands. She, eight years old, couldn't believe that she was playing the childhood game she had grown up with. It wasn't Ninja Tag, but an ordinary play of Hide-N-Seek. She hadn't played this since she was nearly a toddler, or so she had been told.

Kushina pulled her knees tighter against her chest, grinning like a cat.

"Come out, come out, wherever you aaaaaarrreeee ~"

From inside the wardrobe dresser, Kushina peeked through the crack of the two long, rosewood doors that we slightly parted open from her body being stuffed inside. Through the crevice, she saw her Uncle's unmade bed; his dark grey convers strung all over in wrinkles heaps. She saw the bookshelf to the far left, which was littered with scrolls and other misplaced items like brushes and scribbled tags. There was a nightstand to the right of the bed; the lamp sitting upon it was on, creating a dull light around the darkened room.

She jarred open the door enough to poke her head out, checking around for any sounds of footsteps or creaking in the floorboards. When hearing no such, Kushina opened the doors and slipped soundlessly onto the cold, winter planks of the floor.

. . . The door behind her, a little to her left, swung open with smokes of steam following after, following by a tired yawn. Kushina wanted to cower and slap herself. She had been so excited, that she had forgotten whose room she was in, and hadn't even heard him in the shower!

She rotated her head to see Kenshin running a hand through his dark crimson hair, which was drenched and heavily mussed around his head. He was only wearing a pair of boxers, which much to her giggles, were baby blue and decorated with multi-colored fishies. A towel draped over his shoulders, Kushina flushed brightly when his eyes trained on hers. "Ehh? Kush –"She darted forward and pushed him backwards into the bathroom, which was a very difficult task, considering he had a good three feet on her, as well as muscles.

"Shhh!" She shushed him, disregarding his annoyed face as he was forced to lean against the bathroom's counter as she slapped a hand over his mouth. "I'm playing hide-N-seek with Masaru-nii!" She whispered fiercely. "He'll find me!"

Kenshin reached up and curled his index finger around her wrist, tugging enough to where she was forced to let go. "Well, he probably heard the commotion. And he's probably on his way now," he grinned cheekily.

"Well you probably should hide me!" Kushina, in all of her panicking fears, threw her arms around his hips and clung. "Please, please, please! H-He'll tickle me! Please, Ken-nii!"

Kenshin blew out a sigh, which irritated her; as if he was making a huge decision that could possible create devastation to the world. " . . . Alright, I guess I could . . ." He sent chakra to his finger and carefully drew a Seal along her forehead, murmuring 'activation' underneath his breath. "It will hide your chakra, or at least melt it down enough to where he thinks it's mine, now come on, sweetheart!" He wrapped an around her middle and hoisted her up, practically dropping her in the bathtub before turning on the shower.

Kushina couldn't help but let out a tiny squeal as hot water invaded her dry skin, her feet slipping beneath her as she sputtered. Kenshin was eyeing her with obvious enjoyment, the twenty year-old's mouth twisted in a wide grin. He grabbed a bottle above his head, on a small ledge made for washing products, and poured the soap over her head and all over. He washed into her hair as she glared at him with malice. "What?" He asked innocently. "I'm helping you blend in with the environment, that's one of the ten sacred ninja rules y'know –"Kushina cut him off my grabbing his ankle, causing his whole body to fall backwards and his head to smack against the faucet. "Fuck!" He shouted.

"Kenshin?" The door slammed open and Masaru's silhouette could be seen from the source of light in the bathroom. "You alright, bro?"

Kushina hunkered down into the tub and sent a pitiful glance at Kenshin.

"U-Ugh yea," Kenshin recovered and struggled to stand back up. "Stupid, bratty soap bars causing me to fall all the time," her oldest Uncle sent her a scalding glare. "We should just get rid of them; all they do is cause trouble."

Kushina stuck her tongue out at him.

Hi no Kuni – Konohagakure no Sato; Shopping District – 1830 Hours

Uzumaki Kushina huffed soundly and crossed her arms just below her chest. "But Minato-Kuuuun . . . This is my day off, you know I like my days off." And she felt as if she really needed it. Despite getting a good night's sleep, almost ten hours in fact, she still felt as if her feet were lead and her head weighed a ton. Missions had been pouring out from everywhere lately, so really, as a Jounin, she regularly had to leave.

Minato grabbed her hand and gave a reassuring squeeze. "I know, Kushina. It's just that 'kashi wanted –"

"Correction. I didn't want anything. You dragged yourselves along." Hatake Kakashi, Chunin at eleven years-old, glared at his teammates, sensei, and red-headed Jounin. "I just wanted to make sure Tou-san was okay . . ."

"That's why we're coming too, Kakashi-Kun!" Rin quipped enthusiastically before withering underneath her teammates glare, hiding behind Minato's leg as she blushed bright pink.

"Hey, don't ya glare at her ya bastard!" Obito went to tackle Kakashi to the dirt ground, but Kushina intervened by grabbing the Uchiha's ear. "Ah! Ow, ow, ow! Kushina-baa-san, why you do this?"

"One, don't you dare ever call me old, you little brat!" Kushina glowered dangerously as she jerked on the appendage. "And second, I'm holding your ear because you're a little brat!"

When he was finally released, Obito also hid behind Minato's other leg, sulking at Kushina's cranky wrath. It wasn't her fault that she just wanted to cuddle with her Minato-kun and fall into a deep sleep. It wasn't as if she asked for much. She glanced around the Shopping District, noting the kids running around, the laughing and mingling parents, the bright sun and cloudless sky.

She sighed when they neared the massive Gate of Konoha, the large walls encompassing the Village Hidden in the Leaves all the way around. She smirked when she noticed Genma, a senbon balancing in his mouth as he leaned back in his chair, feet propped up on the desk as he slumbered away. So much for being on guard/desk duty. Beside him, Uchiha Yakumi was wide awake and staring impassively ahead, though he would subtly shoot disgusted glances at his dozing comrade.

Kushina promptly stalked over and slapped her hand against the desk, watching with amusement as the fifteen year-old Chunin stammered out something like, "I didn't dye your boxers!" as he shot up and glanced around with frantic eyes. She snickered and turned to look back at Minato and explain to him that she changed her mind, that hearing Genma say that was worth it . . .

. . . but something gnawing at her prevented so. She turned toward the forest of Konoha just as Hatake Sakumo shunshined in front of them, but his face was sullen and also very, very guilty. Namiashi Raidō followed, and then Takashi Ryo with Inuzuka Tsubaki propped on his back. Kaia, her ninken, was swiftly at her master's heels.

And then . . . And then . . .

Kushina almost felt her knees give out in pure shock, the sight before her like the so-many dreams she had had of her old home. Of Uzushio. There was just no way . . . would s-she have known? She would have known!

Uzumaki Kenshin raised a hand in greeting as his eyes never strayed from hers, locks of red hair falling in his eyes. "Hey, sweetheart, long time no see, right?"