She was a little pudgy thing. All babies were. She squirmed and wriggled in the tiny frail body. Yet she had her mother's eyes, the former he could only get lost in when he and she were alone or given time, over a meal out in a restaurant or even missions.
As she was pushed out from her mother's womb, she wailed, as the doctors worked tirelessly to calm both with a methodical but careful procedure.
She laid back against the medical bed, but she was strong, that's what he also loved about her. She fought until she was unable to continue, caring not for the wounds or fatigue that ail oneself. One of the doctors came up, holding her in a dry blanket that soothed her to sleep almost instantly. "It's a girl! What are you going to name her, Miss Yuhi?"
Kurenai smiled, "Mirai. Mirai Sarutobi."
Mirai was a tireless little thing. Though most babies were filled with a relentless energy that drove their parents mad. He reckoned little Mirai would be the same.
As soon as she was able to, she was already crawling. Her hands reached out to touch the toys and whatever she could obtain in her grasp. The same intoxicating eyes of crimson of his wife now held by his daughter waddle around, probing around and looking around her surroundings for something new, something interesting to her innocent mind.
A door knocked, and he saw his nephew, Konohamaru. He greeted Kurenai, and she welcomed him in. As Kurenai set out cups of water, he greeted his daughter, and she curiously watched him, staring at his outstretched hand before her face broke up in a happy gurgling mess of a child who had yet to know how to speak.
She happily sat in his lap as he began to play with her, before Kurenai returned. She asked him how he was, and Konohamaru spoke, explaining the recent occurrences around the village of Konoha. While he had been promoted to Chunin before the war, (he was damn proud of the runt who idolized the blonde prankster of Kakashi for showing his best and the clan's name).
Konohamaru explained that Ebisu, his spectacle donning teacher, had been promoted to Jonin, while both his teammates, Moegi and Udon had recently reached Chunin. At one point, the three had been shrimps who idolized Kakashi's student. Now, they were shinobi in their own right, matured by missions and war, hardened by experience and molded by it.
For a moment, his bodiless form attempted to reach out with a concern but Hiruzen, almost in his same wispy form, held him back. It brought sadness to him. They could never interact with this world now. His soul was tethered to a world beyond that she could never reach, watching but could never touch, could never speak or interact.
He was certain that when Konohamaru brought it up, Kurenai had spoken.
Not until she was old enough. Not until it was an opportunity presented to her. It was her and her decision alone. She would be guided regardless.
And that brought him contentment and peace to know she would not be forced, that her path was her own.
"Mama?"
Kurenai turned to Mirai from chopping vegetables. "Yes, Mirai? Is something the matter"
The young face of her daughter smiled. "I've read up on Papa's past. He's so amazing! He was part of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi and he was stated to rival Kakashi Sensei at one point but I'm a bit confused about something…"
Kurenai wiped her hands, returning with a smile on her still beautiful face. "What is it?" She watched her daughter's face scrunch up slightly, as if deciding.
"How did Papa interact with grandpa… Grandpa Lord Third?"
He watched from above as his own presented this question to his mother. Their formless bodies watched. There were hints of sadness and disappointment at a lack of interaction, yet happiness still at the time they could spend, even just slightly… A burdened legacy that those who would say 'of nepotism…'
"What about Grandma Biwako?"
It was then Hiruzen who watched with sadness. Her early death he cursed his foolishness, his laxness. He had believed everything was right, was alright. And he could only take his failures to this next world, no matter how much Biwako did not blame him once they reunited together. Kurenai knew very little, and the formless Asuma could not blame her. He had hardly seen her in his time either, content with just carrying it out forgetting the family he had. He could only hug her when they met, whispering an apology of a single visit on her grave the moment of October 10th, even if she did forgive him.
"Mama… I heard there was also our great grandpa Sasuke Sarutobi, and he was Lord Third's father. What was he like?"
He was not a name that was easily prided on. He was of darkness similar to Danzo, and they did not see him in the next world. Hiruzen could only lower his head. Asuma wished he had a cigarette, but the spirits did not have the luxuries of the living.
Even as she persisted, Mirai was still a child who could tire, no matter her boundless energy. Her cheer rang out when she heard Shikamaru visiting once more, one of her father's students. She always loved Shikamaru. Her big brother returned.
"Good boy you trained." His mother would dote and praise the Nara heir, but Asuma shook his head. Shikamaru was a man that found his own way.
By her insistence to become a shinobi, even while starting out at the Academy, Kurenai and Shikamaru began. Of course, with the most simplistic path.
They all watched. Shikamaru and Kurenai and unbeknownst of the familiar faces of the other world, Hiruzen, Biwako and Asuma watched.
"You got this. Keep calm. Don't worry if you don't pass the first time. It takes a couple of tries. Not everyone will get it the first time."
It was typical advice that was given to any greenie, but to Mirai, she knew it. Keep calm. Her foot touched the bark of the tree's side.
Wobbly, she nearly fell over with knees trembling and shaking. Biwako inhaled in surprise. Hiruzen merely smiled.
One step and then another, she began to climb. One two. One two. One two. She chanted in her head as they watched, transfixed.
Halfway up the bark, her foot slipped off with a startled shriek escaping from her lips. Fast, even despite motherhood, Kurenai caught her, scanning for injuries. Yet the cry wasn't sad or of disappointment. It was simply pure laughter and giggles.
"Let's go again! I'll get it next time!"
Thus it continued with rich laughter, Mirai's determination unwavering. Choji Akimichi arrived in a blur of a Body Flicker, greeting with a wide smile, his face aligned by an early beard already. He greeted with hugs for Kurenai and Mirai, before he gave his message to Shikamaru. Work was needed once more, and so both said their goodbyes, Mirai making them promise they would return, and they would.
He watched as she took a few steps up to the Academy, uncertain and unsure. The first day had always been of uncertainty, even for him when he had been his father's son. The leader of the village, their child. Doubts crippled oneself, and his father told him it was fine to have doubts at times. Just remember your family, that they're there for you, even if you're uncertain, and it will be fine. It will be fine.
It would be fine.
"She has your pride." Hiruzen would comment.
Asuma thought not. He disagreed. Of course they would continue to butt head long after they joined the next world together. Nothing would let them rest as long as they would have topics they would continue to disagree on.
"No. She has a Sarutobi's pride."
Mirai strode up to the Academy. This was it. Her first day. Her first path.
She gripped her belongings tightly, taking a deep breath, then entered.
The Academy's massive renovations and reconstruction made it much easier and she was glad there were directions, where staff directed them to their respective rooms upon their schedule given, and she was the same.
She entered her class and sat down. A few had stared, and she immediately wished she could shrink down and vanish.
Their instructor entered amidst the chatter and quieted them. He told them to introduce themselves.
When it had been Mirai's turn, she hesitated, before beginning.
Asuma Sarutobi was a man who was simply himself in the name of Sarutobi.
She was Mirai Sarutobi, her own self in Sarutobi.
"My dream is to carry on the Will of Fire, as my father and grandfather did!" She exclaimed her dream.
This, she swore, on the pride of Sarutobi.