Shiori woke up to knocking on her door. She listened to the pattern. It was the code they had set up with Tsunade-sensei, so she got up and opened the door. She was immediately grabbed into a bone-crushing hug.
Tsunade grabbed her tightly, spinning her around. "My favorite gaki." She screamed with joy. Shiori couldn't breathe. Her vision was going dark when she was finally dropped to the ground.
She gulped for air trying to orient herself. Her head was spinning. Shizune put a hand on her shoulder, checking to see if she was ok. Shiori gave her a small smile.
"Hi Tsunade-sensei. Hi Shizune-ne." Shiori said as she finally got up.
"Hi, Shiori-chan," Shizune said. Tonton oinked from behind her, and Shiori bent down to pat her head.
She then invited them in and grabbed a sealing scroll with a travel stove and pot to make some tea. It was very early in the morning. The sun hasn't risen yet. So she decided to make mint and cinnamon tea.
She loved the feeling of freshness from mint and the slightly warm and sweet tone of cinnamon. She also had a special box of cookies she got from her travel to the land of tea. She was saving it for a special occasion.
Tsunade and Shizune made themselves comfortable. Tonton lay with her head on Shizune's lap.
"Yeah. We just unpacked our thing in our room. We got a free upgrade when I signed my name for the room. So you can come to our room." Tsunade said. Stretching herself. Probably stiff from the journey.
"Sure. It can be fun." Shiori said as they waited for the tea.
"So wanna tell me all that happened since our last meeting?" Tsunade said. She was like a mother figure to Shiori. Their bond was beyond master and student. Shiori was dropped off with her when she was six.
She still clearly remembered the day. She always had great chakra control and a knack for medicine so her sensei just dropped her off with Tsunade. Paying her a hefty amount to teach her healing.
She cried and begged for her sensei not to leave her. But the man said he was too busy to take care of a brat. He left too quickly for anyone to protest. She was crying, sobbing, and screaming.
Tsunade later told her that she had no intention of accepting a student but when she saw the state Shiori was in she couldn't bring herself to leave her. She passed out from all the crying.
When she woke up the next day, she was withdrawn from everything. She felt like an empty shell. Tsunade tried to get her to talk. To understand the situation. when she learned that she was an amnesiac and the only person she knew just dumped her, she couldn't bring herself to abounden her.
Tsunade really did not want to deal with the situation. She could clearly see that the child was a Uzumaki, so she could not drop her off anywhere and hope for the best. She knew better than that. One look from anyone who knew of Uzumaki's and she could be recognized. She would definitely get kidnapped for the powers she possessed or, worse, for breeding.
Tsunade was a medic at heart, a healer. She might have killed many in wars, but she was not about to condemn an innocent child to such a fate. She planned to head to somewhere near Konoha.
She could then contact her old sensei and have someone take Shiori to Konoha. She knew Konoha was not perfect. She knew of what lurked in the shadows. But she trusted her sensei enough to protect her from the worst of it.
However, this plan never came to pass. On the fourth day of their journey toward Konoha, Shiori collapsed. She had a high fever, and her body was severely weakened.
They had to stop until she was better. One morning, Tsunade found her sitting next to the pile of books Shizune used to study.
"What are you doing?" She asked. While these books were not targeted towards experts they were still beyond the level of a 6 year old.
"I'm reading the book. I woke up a few hours ago, and I couldn't sleep." Shiori said with a pout that only made her more adorable.
"Well, you should probably look for a book you can actually understand," Tsunade said with a snort.
"I may not fully understand it but it's still interesting. Tsunade-sama, why don't we use a tool for removal of placenta that is stuck after birth from the mothers?" Shiori asked. There was such curiosity and innocence in her voice. It reminded Tsunade of herself.
Tsunade couldn't believe she could actually read the text, let alone understand anything from it. She explained the answer only to be bombarded with more questions.
She decided test her more on the content and while it became clear some of the answers were from someone who has just memorized the text it was astounding. Never has she seen anyone with such perfect memory.
To read such a high-level book only once and remember the content perfectly in such a short time. It was perfect memorization. The ability to encounter something once and remember it.
She made a decision. To test the limits of her abilities until she was well enough to travel. They spent the next two weeks with Shizune and Tsunade, teaching her all sorts of information and constantly quizzing her.
It was a miracle to them. After the two weeks when Shiori was finally recovered Tsunade couldn't bring herself to leave her. They had already became attached and they had the chance to train an amazing medic. A talent that shouldn't be wasted.
So the next two years came. They taught her all they could. All they believed she could use. Due to her age, her chakra system was not developed to use more advanced techniques.
Still, they taught her the theory and more. Tsunade taught her all about being a woman. How to properly care for herself, how to cook, clean, dress, and all the skills she needed to live on her own.
Shizune taught her how to be responsible. How to manage her money, budget, choose groceries. She was also the person who got her interested in poisons and medicinal plants.
Shiori was working on a journal to record all her notes on her experiments and discoveries of the subject. Maybe she could even share some of her stash with her favorite nee-san.
They had their tea and cookies as Shiori told them about all her adventures. It's been only a few months, but she missed them so much. She knew she could always go back to traveling with them.
The problem was that it was not what she wanted. Tsunade and Shizune did not travel as often or with the purpose of gaining experience as medics. Shiori wanted to spread her wings.
She wanted to go on adventures and learn from her journeys. Their goals did not align. She could always visit them and it brought her comfort.
Tsunade had given her ways to find her. Ways to always know where she was. They also regularly exchanged letters.
After Shiori explained everything that had happened on her last journey, Tsunade took a few minutes to think.
"I've already contacted the person we are going to meet. He will be here tomorrow. I don't fully trust him to leave you alone with him, but I trust him to behave while I'm around."
"He is a genius when it comes to these things. It's one of his favorite topics. If there is anyone who can find answers it's him. but don't share everything with him right off. He may run off if he has what he needs." Tsunade said thoughtfully.
"Who are we going to meet, Tsunade-sensei?" Shiori asked curiously.
"My former teammate. Orochimaru. He is a slimy bastard. But I can't deny his knowledge. Do not trust him." Tsunade said. It was clear to Shiori that she was conflicted.
Tsunade didn't want to badmouth her former teammate, but it was clear that she was not a fan of him. Feelings of familiarity and wariness were clear in her. Shiori stopped herself from reading more into it.
She knew shinobi were not usually open with their emotions and feelings, and the fact that Tsunade-sensei being open with her meant she trusted her. If she wanted to tell her more, she would, so it was best to trust her judgment.
"Are you coming with us too, Shizune-ne?" Shiori asked. Poor Shizune looked minutes away from falling asleep.
"No. There is not much for me to help with there. Plus, I'm more interested in borrowing the journal you wrote to me about. I can make a copy while you guys take care of it." Shizune said with clear interest.
"Sure." Shiori said. She couldn't wait to get her input on some of the subjects.
After getting Shiori set up in the new room, they all went to sleep. Shiori was not as tired but she could always use a nap. Her futon was laid between the two adults. It made her feel safe and warm.
She was also a big hugger in her sleep clinging to anything that was close to her. she often liked to bunch her blanket and wrap herself around it like an octopus. More than once she had woken up to find herself hugging her sensei or nee-san.
The first few times, she was embarrassed. She was used to clinging to her previous sensei in her sleep. But that was mostly because he was warm, and they were often on the road.
It was dangerous to light a fire in unfamiliar territories, so they had to rely on their own body heat. So it became a habit of her. Something that brought her comfort.
After Tsunade and Shizune not making any mention of the strange habit and not making a big deal out of it, she felt a lot more comfortable. Tsunade even told her that Shizune used to do the same thing when she was younger.
There were a lot of things that made Shiori love them both so much, including their strange family. None of them shared the same blood, but all these small gestures, all the little acts, made her believe in the bond they shared. That they all cared in their own way.
Tsunade's harsh physical training, Shizune's expectation for perfection, the way Tsunade sneaked vegetables onto her plate during meals, and the way Shizune always brushed and styled her hair.
Tsunade getting her clothes when she didn't have money, and Shizune staying up late at night to sew the holes in her clothes from training. There were a million things she could think of.
Things that made her feel warm and at home. She wasn't sure if she could ever make it up to them. for all they have done for her. but she would do her best. To thank them as best as she could.
To show them the same love and appreciation.
Shiori was once a lost child. wandering around and trying to find herself. to find somewhere to belong. To find a purpose. To find meaning in life.
She may not still know many things. She didn't know who she was or where she came from. She didn't know where her powers came from or why she was the way she was.
But she knew she has a purpose now. To help as many people as she could. To give them hope. To be a medic. A healer.
While she was at it, she would uncover the truth and learn what had happened in her past.
Life was hard and the world was cruel. But she learned to be a survivor. To thrive and enjoy it.
She had many years to live, and she planned to live the best life she could.