After the first few days of Koka's joining of the shrine, it became clear to the older woman that something was different about the child. For the first few days the baby would not stop crying, causing Heiwa to wonder if something was wrong, but she could find no traces of illness or harm. But it was what came after that that caused the shrine maiden to become uneasy.
After the unending crying came silence, as if the child had come to terms with something unchangeable. It was then that Heiwa saw the uncanny intelligence in the child's blue eyes, eyes that belonged in a young adult, not a new born baby. As if the Sage himself had told her, Heiwa knew the child was not an ordinary child.
"You will one day change the world, Koka." The baby looked at her in silence, unable to understand the words, but knowing it was Heiwa who said them.
Over the next few months, the intelligence of Koka became more and more noticeable. As if she knew what to do, the baby began to approach milestones faster than normal children. At first it was hard to notice as she was limited by what her infant body was capable of. But when Koka was able to sit up by five months without any assistance, her physical skills began to grow at a faster rate, sometimes startling Heiwa. Her social state however, seemed to grow at a rate slower than average.
When Koka had reached ninth month, another child had joined the shrine. Kaede was five when she was brought in, and the little girl was fascinated by Koka. She would spend every second possible around the younger child, talking to her or attempting to play. The attempts to play did not last very long.
Heiwa was dusting the shelves in the main room while Kaede sat on the floor with Koka, attempting to get the baby to play. The older woman had just finished when she heard it.
"No, Kaede." Heiwa just stared at Koka who was frowning at a doll Kaede held. The baby turned and crawled away, leaving Kaede confused. The older woman could not help it. She burst out laughing at Kaede's expression and Koka's behavior. At just under ten months, Koka had spoken her first two words.
Once it became clear that Koka did not want to play, Heiwa suggested that Kaede help the young child learn to walk and speak. It quickly became apparent that the activity was a task both children enjoyed. By the time Koka was one, she and Kaede were walking around hand in hand. With someone to consistently talk with, Koka's verbal skills skyrocketed to be on par with the rest of her abilities. There was no doubt in Heiwa's mind. Koka was a prodigy above any other child.
When Kaede had been with them for over a year and Koka was two, the youngest child once again showed her intelligence. Kaede had begun helping Heiwa around the shrine, taking on light duties such as cleaning, while Koka followed the older child around. It was one such day when Kaede was in the shrine office taking care of papers when Koka walked in without Kaede.
"What is it Koka?" The older woman was mildly surprised. Koka rarely left Kaede's side. The two year old looked straight at Heiwa.
"Where are we Heiwa-san?" The older woman was surprised. Of all the things to ask, that was never a question she expected. She sat her pen down.
"The Ninshu Shrine in Konoha." A crease appeared on the child's forehead.
"In the Fire country?" Despite the growing surprise Heiwa was feeling, she kept it hidden. She did not recall ever talking about the country or even mentioning it.
"That's right." Koka nodded in what appeared to be acceptance. She turned and left, presumably to find Kaede. Heiwa sat in momentarily silence before picking up her pen once again. When it came to Koka, Heiwa knew time would reveal what was going on in her mind.
A few months passed since Koka came to Heiwa's office when something drastic happened. It was the middle of the day and the elder woman was cooking for the three of them when she heard screaming. Forgetting the food, Heiwa dropped her spoon and ran toward the source. What she came across would change her life forever.
On the floor was Koka, clutching a kneeling Kaede. The elder child had tears in her eyes and wore a terrified expression. Koka was the one screaming. Heiwa rushed over and lifted the young child up. Her eyes were squeezed shut and Heiwa began to make out words.
"It's ok Koka, you're safe. Hush child, it's ok." Koka's screams became sobs and her eyes opened. Heiwa's breath caught in her throat. Koka's normally light blue eyes and taken on an ethereal hue as they now glowed.
"I don't want to be a shinobi Heiwa." The girl continued to cry, causing Kaede to start sniffling as well. Heiwa brought the other child into her embrace as well.
"You don't have to be a shinobi Koka. You're ok. Everything will be ok." Slowly Koka's sobs began to quiet as the younger child began to drift off as she murmured,
"Don't let them take me." Heiwa's hands tightened on the two girls in her arms.
"No one will take you. You're both safe here." She picked Kaede up in her other arm and carried the two girls to their room where she placed them on Kaede's bed. Koka had clung on to the older child in her sleep and Heiwa did not have the heart to wake them.
The older woman wandered back to the kitchen where she salvaged what was left of the food and put it into the fridge. Task done, Heiwa sank into a chair at the table and put her head into her hands. Koka was indeed very different. Heiwa did not know how different or what to do. All she knew was that she had to find out protect her girls.