Chapter 3- A name for himself

Over the past three years Mizuko completed over one hundred missions. His training with Tobirama, Hashirama, and several other Senju shinobi tuned his reflexes and increased his endurance to the point where he was completing missions against up to five enemy shinobi without injury. His abilities with water style techniques began to rival Tobirama's at that age. He had also became very adept at earth style training under Butsuma, although he didn't train as much with him as Tobirama. Mizuko also added nearly 500,000 ryo to the Senju clan treasury total. His contributions were giving him respect amongst the Senju, but his allegiance became known when he became the target of a member of the Inuzuka clan. The hunter tracked him until he was within 100 meters of the Senju clan quarters. His mission couldn't be completed as attacking this place was suicide. Senju clan sensory ninja sensed him and pursued. After being captured he gave the description of his target. It fit Mizuko to the teeth. They let this man live only after taking all of his ninja tools and killing his ninja hound. With Mizuko's affiliation known, he could no longer be a mercenary ninja. Butsuma decided that Mizuko accompany Tobirama on his next mission.

"So all the Land of Fire knows you fight for the Senju, you'll become a target of our enemies." Sahira stated warily to Mizuko. The two had started to become quite close as Mizuko was always in need of ointment refills.

"Yeah I guess I am. But I'm strong, you don't need to worry about me." Mizuko tells Sahira reassuringly. Sahira had become his best friend. He didn't spend much time with the other children of the Senju.
"Don't die on me, promise you won't get killed like so many of my clansmen." Sahira demanded of the young warrior.

"I promise." But this threw Mizuko into a depressed mood. He was ready to die for the two men that saved him. But he was a target because he fought for the Senju. He wasn't a Senju. This was something that occurred to him much more often every day. He had no clan. He was just Mizuko. He could barely remember the uncle that left him.

"There you two are, I was wondering what you were doing." Hashirama says as he finds the two children. "Sahira, your mother is looking for you, it's about time you learned medical remedies. Good luck with that though."

"Thanks Mr. Hashirama, and see you later Mizuko." Sahira waved as she ran towards the medical quarters.

"Mizuko, I want to share something with you."

"What is it?"

"I have a dream. That one day we can stop endless conflicts."

"What do you mean?"

"For as long as there's been ninja, there's been endless battles fought between the different clans that dwell in these great lands. Every member of the clan risks their lives on missions to further the strength and power of their clan. This causes death every day. Children are not exempt from this. Many die not knowing the changes of the body. Many die before they fully understand what they fight for. I dream that one day children will stop being sent to the front lines of battle. I only dream of creating a land where people born of other clans weren't each others' enemies. Do you understand what I mean?"

Mizuko did understand. He had faced a few children on missions with their father. He had to kill them both with equal force. Some of his kills were around his age.

"Yes, It's sad."

"It is indeed."

Mizuko understood why Hashirama was telling him this. Mizuko would soon be a child fighting on the front lines to further the goals of the Senju. He already knew of clan members being killed just for bearing a certain surname. He hated how this always resulted in more needless death. He knew that the Senju accepted so many interception jobs just to fight the Uchiha, not once had he heard of a mission against them have been denied.

"Anyway Mizuko, your first mission with Tobirama is the day after tomorrow. I'll leave you to get your rest." And with that Hashirama left Mizuko for the to do whatever for the rest of the day.

Mizuko decided he wouldn't be a member of the Senju clan. But he would serve Hashirama and Tobirama to the death. He went for a walk as he thought of a clan name. He thought about it all afternoon and as he went back inside his house he sat next to Tobirama on the back patio.
"What do you think of the name Kokuaki?" Mizuko asked curiously.

"It's an okay name, but what's the name for?"

"I was going to start a clan, I don't want to be a Senju. But I will fight for them for as long as I live."

"Well, that's fine by me. Mizuko Kokuaki eh. Maybe one day your clan will be a force to be reckoned with."

"Thanks Tobirama, for understanding."

"It's not a problem, but are you ready for our first mission together?"

"I'm very ready, I've never had a team before."

"Just be ready to block anything aimed at me and you'll do fine."

Mizuko went to bed shortly after this conversation. He went to bed Mizuko Kokuaki. He had a name now, and he also had a clan now. He slept very good that night knowing he had his own name.

The next day he decided to practice his fire style. He was surprised to see that he could produce a decently intense but small in size ball of flames. He figured his overall chakra control is what made this possible. But his water style had to quickly be applied to the trees which the fireball hit. He didn't have any nonflammable targets to practice on. He could have made a rock wall but that would've left him with less chakra to train with and he'd drain himself a lot faster.

"Nice fireball, you going to make another one?" asked Hashirama as he was watching Mizuko make his first fireball in years.

"I don't know, I don't have a way to not light the forest on fire."

"I could make a thick wall of wood away from the trees for you to use."

"Thanks, that'll save me a lot of chakra."

Hashirama created a wood wall nearly twenty feet tall and fifteen feet wide. Mizuko created another fire ball but it was the same size as his previous one. Mizuko tried again and again for nearly four hours but only managed to increase the size slightly. Tobirama approached them with a proud look on his face. He was ready for Mizuko to go on his first mission with him and the elites.

"How's today's training going?" Tobirama asked Mizuko and his brother.

"Splendidly, Mizuko's chakra control exercises are going along greatly."

"I was working on my fire style but I don't know if I'm that good at self teaching. If only we had some fire style users in our clan." Mizuko wanted to be stronger. He needed strength to start his own clan. He didn't even have his own house. However he noticed Tobirama's expression change.

"Hashirama our father has an important matter to discuss with you."

"Alright, is it happening again?"

"Yes."

Hashirama's face changed to match his brother's expression. He left for Butsuma's house. Tobirama turned to face him.

"I'll be back, I have to go check the armory. You'll have to make yourself dinner tonight."

Mizuko hated when this happened. He knew a clan battle was coming up. These were battles waged between rival clans to determine the strongest between them. The Uchiha and Senju had these rivaling competitions every couple of years, but the last one was only about a year and a couple of months ago. The clan had barely recovered from the last. Mizuko was a big help but he couldn't replace the veteran elites that died last time. It wasn't uncommon for children to fight in clan battles, but the casualty rate was high. This caused severe hatred for the clan that killed these children. Mizuko was heavily devoted to helping Hashirama achieve his goal of peace. As Mizuko thought about where to build his first house Sahira approached him.

"Mizuko! Butsuma wishes to see you right now!" Sahira looked worried. It looked like she was about to lose her best friend.

"What's wrong?"
"My mother's going to be in tomorrow's clan battle! She won't have proper protection! Something might happen to her! What will I do if she dies!?" She buried herself in Mizuko's arms.

"It'll be ok, I'm sure Hashirama or Tobirama will be able to protect her."

"No, they'll be busy fighting Madara or Izuna."

"Don't worry, they can't let somebody as important her die, she's the best medical ninja we have." Sahira pulls away from Mizuko.

"Butsuma needs to see you." With this she wiped her eyes and left for her house.

Mizuko went to Butsuma as quickly as he could. He wondered why he would have a mission right before a clan battle, the last two he was a stationed as a guard to protect those who stayed behind.

"What do you need of me Lord Butsuma?"

"Mizuko, tomorrow we have a clan battle with the Uchiha. We lack in elite veteran shinobi. I need you to participate tomorrow. I'll let you choose what position you want to be in. Vanguard, which is where the strongest will be, midguard, which is the backup for the vanguard and those that defend the rearguard, which are those that defend the routes to the clan's quarters and our medical ninja. Which do you choose?"

Mizuko didn't know which to choose. He didn't have enough combat prowess for the vanguard, he didn't want to let people die by choosing the rearguard.

"I'll be in the midguard. Thanks for choosing me to be there."

"Mizuko your devotion to the Senju will never be forgotten. If you die tomorrow, you will die a hero in the history of our clan. You need to start preparing for tomorrow. Goodnight."

Mizuko was honored by what the clan leader told him. But he had no intention of dying tomorrow on the battlefield that claimed so many lives. He got to the armory to see it was filled to the brim with his allies. Nearly every Senju was there. Even some younger that were younger than he was. They were all gathering weapons and armor so the battle could begin as soon as the sun came up. This was the first time he saw this. He started to get nervous as he wondered how many would die this time. He hoped he wouldn't be one of the casualties. He saw Hashirama and Tobirama exit together. Hashirama looked to him.

"So you've heard the news?"

"Yes."

"What position are you going to be in?" asked Tobirama.

"Midguard."

"That's better than the vanguard." Hashirama added. "Just make sure to stay away from the major battles, and you'll do fine."

"Now head home and get some rest." Tobirama said worryingly.

Hashirama headed home to do the same. As he walked home Tobirama dreaded the fact Mizuko had to participate in tomorrow's battle. Mizuko had become his pride. Mizuko was like a son to him. He would have to waste no time with Izuna in order to protect him. As he got home he ate ramen Sahira brought and went to bed.

The next morning Mizuko set out for battle with his Senju comrades. They were expected to meet the Uchiha in a very open area with trees outlining it. This was to hide clan medics as well as to provide a full retreat if necessary. The medical unit stopped a kilometer before the opening. About 300 Senju were on route to battle a group of Uchiha of equal size. There was no room for error on battlefield, as he had to watch out for his comrades.

In the center the clan heads collided. Trees and water appeared to combat large fireballs. The battle had begun so quickly. Mizuko was surprised to see literally seconds in it was already so intense of a warzone. He dove to the right just to avoid a wave of shuriken coming his way. The attacker swung his sword which Mizuko barely had time to block. Mizuko attempted to parry but was easily blocked. This man was no mercenary ninja, he was an Uchiha with a fully matured Sharingan. The man used a large fireball in an attempt to wipe out the young boy, but Mizuko blocked with a small earth wall, he dove to the left and attempted to use his water bullet but the man anticipated his attack. This was a battle Mizuko couldn't win with tactics he used on his previous opponents. But he heard a fierce battle being fought in the direction of the Senju medical tents. Mizuko had to finish his opponent quickly. He used a fireball to surprise his opponent but was blocked with one larger. He put all of his power into a water bullet that shot straight through the smoke. He couldn't see for several seconds, but he assumed the man was dead so he turned and moved as fast as he could for the medics.

The sight he saw horrified him. Several medics were dead. There were bodies everywhere. At least half of the tents had been destroyed. He rushed to the one in the back. The guards posted outside the tent had all been killed, but took a few enemies with them. Mizuko entered the tent to see Sahira's mother with a tanto in her back as she crawled away from a man who pulled out a kunai to finish the job and presumably kill any wounded who attempted to come here. Mizuko looked at the woman who had become the closest thing he ever had to a mother. The woman who was always kind to him and cooked for him after missions. The woman who always gave him discounts on the most expensive medical supplies. She was the single mother of his best friend. Sahira was orphaned now. Because of this man, this man who killed her with a smile. This man would not be forgiven. This man would pay for his actions in blood.

Mizuko's sword began to feel heavy as he burned and froze inside. A jagged metal began to cover the tip and the blade of his sword. Mizuko screamed as he lunged towards the man. The man chuckled as he blocked effortlessly. But he didn't block. Mizuko's blade went straight through his opponent's and through his chest. The man coughed a heavy amount of blood onto Mizuko's feet. When he pulled his blade out the man fell to his knees in complete surprise. Mizuko looked at his blade. It's cutting power and weight increased. This blending of the three natures took a heavy toll on his chakra. He needed to continue fighting though. He was needed.

Mizuko killed several Uchiha with his new abilities. But the augmented blade had to be repaired after every few blades it cut through. This turned out to be very taxing on his chakra, and wasn't always an instantaneous process. It seemed to take longer to form the more he used it. But he had to keep fighting to end this battle, as winning was the only way to stop the bloodshed. After several hours he heard the horn to retreat. But the strange thing was it came from both sides. He immediately went to assist in making sure the remaining medics made it back safely. They had lost a third of their medical ninja including the Head. When they returned Mizuko waited for the leaders to arrive. Hashirama and Tobirama walked inside the gate with very somber expressions. Butsuma was nowhere to be seen. The Senju clan had lost two-fifths of their numbers. Tajima Uchiha had also been killed. It seemed the two men killed each other as they drove their blades into each other.

"Where's my mother?" Sahira asked Hashirama.

"She died on the battlefield." Hashirama replied with regret.

Sahira looked devastated. But was somehow prepared for the worst. It was almost like she knew this would happen. A tear ran down Mizuko's face as he realized she was alone. Everyone prepared for the funeral services. Mizuko went home to sleep today's horrors off. Only to have the worst nightmares he's ever had in his life.