Hello Everyone! Apologies for the wait and stress. I'm back on schedule and back in health, thou that was really scary. I believe I am in the right mind where it won't affect the story so here we go!

Chapter 114. Haruna Uzumaki part 1.

"The bastard child of the Uzumaki clan."

That's how my father introduced her to me. With long sakura hair that was neither white nor red, she didn't belong anywhere. Haruna Uzumaki was the love affair between my Uncle and a Kaguya woman. The woman died during childbirth, leaving behind a crying infant.

Feeling pity, uncle took her in and raised her as a Uzumaki but it wasn't so simple. With her tainted blood, she wasn't as strong and resilient as pure blood and even those born of Senju and Uzumaki were superior. The clan looked down on her as a stain but she had something unique to the head family, the mind's eyes of Kagura.

When her father died, my father took her in despite Mother's protest. "Despite everything, she still holds Uzumaki blood," he told us. "She will be loyal to the clan that raised her." And he was right.

Our clan was called for aid during the Senju and Uchiha wars. I was engaged to the Senju heir and accompanied my father to the meeting. Haruna was also there, never allowed to stray too far from father's side. With her eyes of Kagura, Father thought of her as an important asset.

During the meeting, the base was attacked by the Uchihas.

The surprise attack was effective, throwing the base into chaos. Haruna was the only one who kept a levelled head. She ushered the younger Senju to safety and ran away from the chaos with me in tow.

With eyes that could sense chakra, we avoided most of the Uchihas.

She moved like a trained shinobi even though we, as women, received no training. Her movements were accurate and precise with not a move wasted.

She was aiming for the Uzumaki camp not far away, but while strong, she was still only a girl. We came under attack by Sharingan users. Even when Haruna sensed them she couldn't avoid them, we weren't fast enough. They cornered us, spotting my red hair. They rightfully assumed I was a Uzumaki pureblood, and therefore useful to the clan. With her unassuming appearance, they thought Haruna was just a maidservant. She could have run, and no one would chase her, but she didn't.

She attacked. Using the abilities of both heritage she created a copse of bones trapping them inside. With her blood, she wrote a seal of concealment on the bone prison, and we were running again.

I was amazed, even my elder brother would struggle with a group of clansmen let alone Sharingan users.

It was then that I began to realize how strong Haruna was.

Even after burning the scorn and hatred of the clan; the jealous eyes of my brothers and Mother, she never faltered. Unlike myself who was too weak to fight back, Haruna was so amazing.

When we ran head first into the Uchiha head, Tajima Uchiha, and his sons, much to Hrauna's confusion, I knew it was over for us. I often heard horror stories of the lone Uzumaki that was traded to the Uchiha clan. They say she was forced to heal the clan head, her "husband" every day and bear children for all the strong clansmen. She was nothing but a tool. And that's why Father warned me against getting captured.

"If you are ever in that situation, be sure to end your life, father will avenge you."

I gripped the hidden kunai with trembling hands. I was scared but I couldn't afford to be captured. Haruna stepped in front of me, protectively. Surely she didn't mean to fight the Uchiha main family!?

"Hmph, you're 20 years too early to be challenging me, girl" Tajima snarled.

"I'm doing no such thing," Haruna replied, her voice sweet. It was the first time I heard her speak more than three words.

"Ho?"

"As you can see we were merely passing through," she shrugged. "I apologize for bumping into you but in my defense your stealth was beyond my abilities" I looked at her in disbelief. Was she flattering the enemy?

He laughed a deep belly laugh.

"Oh, where did the Uzumaki find a girl like you?" He chuckled. "No matter, I'm sure your friend here will serve as the perfect hostage."

A gasp escaped my throat but Haruna didn't flinch.

"Hostage?" She tilted her head in curiosity. "Why would you need a hostage?"

"That's none of your business," the Uchiha boy growled, there were three of them, if I remember correctly there should be four.

"Isn't it though," Haruna was sickenly sweet. "You want to use us as hostages, at least tell us why?"

"No one's interested in you pinky!" the youngest Uchiha boy yelled. Haruna hummed, but didn't move from before me. She crossed her arm. "Well it's not like I can just leave her behind, I'll be killed for sure." She took on a thoughtful posture. "Tell you what, how about I go back and relay your demand and then we trade hostages!" She clapped her hands as if it was a brilliant idea. The Uchihas exchanged looks. Haruna shrugged. "We could also fight and attract nearby Uzumakis and Senjus and force a retreat with no hostages."

"You-"

Taijima stopped his son.

"You're not just a maid are you?" He asked his red eyes changing shape. Haruna grinned.

"Just a bastard is all."

I wasn't privy to what they discussed. Haruna seemed to be bargaining with the Uchiha if not scolding him. I stood with the Uchiha boys looking stunned and confused. The younger two wore pouts on their round faces while the oldest had a hard and unreadable expression. I dared not look at him for too long. To look a Uchiha in the eye was to assure death.

They decided on a letter with my hairpin as proof. They asked for a Uchiha named Izuna in exchange for my return, but there was no mention of Haruna.

The letter they received in turn chilled my blood.

[I'd rather bury my daughter than negotiate with a Uchiha.]

I was going to die.

"Well, I did tell you," Haruna huffed upon seeing the message.

"How dare they," the eldest son growled. "Fine if he wants to see you dead, then so be it!" He turned to me with dark eyes.

"Are you ready to do it my way now?" We turned to Haruna in surprise as she smirked at the Tajima. The older man sighed, rubbing his temple.

"Fine," he scoffed. "But don't think you can deceive me."

"No way~" the two talked as if they were old friends and not enemies. Haruna disappeared for half a day, all of which I spent pacing nervously. My mind spiraled, what if she ran away and left? What was the plan and why didn't she tell me? Was this revenge for the Uzumaki's treatment of her? Wringing my fingers, I worried about my fate. I didn't want to die.

The Uchihas paid me no mind, though the older son looked almost as worried as I.

As the sun set below the horizon, Haruna returned with a young and frightened Uchiha child.

"Izuna!" The older son ran to him and pulled the boy into a tight embrace.

"What, don't I get a hug too?" Haruna teased, receiving a glare from the boy.

With a pout, she walked over to the Uchiha head and held open her arms as though asking for a hug. The man looked flabbergasted but managed a gentle pat on her silky pink head. Haruna pouted but accepted the gesture. She walked over to me and patted my shoulder.

"Let's get going before they change their mind," she said to me. I looked from the Uchihas to her and back.

"Are they letting us go?" I whispered, watching the family welcome their lost son.

"That was the deal," she said flatly, pulling me to my feet. I took one last look at the Uchihas only to see them staring at us, but none moved to stop us.

We made our way through the thick foliage under the cover of night. While I couldn't see where we were going, Haruna had no issue navigating the plains. She slowed down when I stumbled and sped up when passing wandering shinobi, through it all she never let go of my hand.

I made a promise in my heart to protect her next time as she protected me. I would get stronger and stand before her. I was my father's daughter, after all.

We soon came upon a camp decorated with the Senju clan crest. I sighed in relief, ready to put this whole day behind us and sleep. I stepped forward, taking the lead to the bright bunker when her hand slipped from mine. The emptiness was jarring. I turned to her in confusion but she smiled at me.

"The deal was to get you home safe," she explained, clasping her hand behind her back and rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet. "I'm not coming with you."

"Why, why not!?" I exclaimed.

She shrugged, nonchalantly, "The deal was only to release you, not me."

"Father will protect you-"

"Will he really?" She asked flatly, her eyes indifferent. "At least like this, the Uchiha won't burn the Senju clan to dust." She pushed me towards the camp.

"I'm sure Uncle will be happy to see you, don't keep him waiting."

I moved to protest but my body moved on its own, walking towards the camp. My eyes looked back to see the older Uchiha boy step out of the darkness to rest a hand on Haruna's shoulder. She grinned up at him as if he were a friend and not the enemy. Before I knew it I was in the warm torch light of the camp. Father rushed out to see me, after confirming it was me and not an imposter, pulled me into a tight embrace as if he hadn't abandoned me to die.

I cried that night, harder than I ever did before and since. I wasn't able to do anything and lost my Savior and cousin. Who knew what horrible things they would do to her?

From then on, I honored my promise to myself, I trained and became stronger. I mastered seals and created a few of my own. At the end of my childhood, when I was to marry Hashirama, I was already a force to be reckoned with among the Uzumaki clan. The former head of the Uchiha clan had passed away and Madara Uchiha was the new head, the younger brother, the one Haruna rescued, the only remaining son from that time.

Hashirama told me of his short friendship with the clan head and their time together, mentioning ever so briefly the pink-haired companion he had. Haruna was Madara's wife, the news shocked me but made sense in a horrifying way. Perhaps she was just like the lone Uzumaki who married Tajima.

Before I could investigate more, the war was over. Hashirama and Madara declared a permanent ceasefire. Together the two clans created a village and welcomed all other clans tired of the war to join them.

Konohagakure was the name Madara chose and like a starry-eyed child, Hashirama agreed. When I met Haruna again, it was at the founding celebration. She was dressed in a beautiful kimono bearing the Uchiha crest. She clung to Madara's arm, smiling brightly and speaking Casually to the Uchihas. She looked healthy and well taken care of. Though Madara would roll his eyes at her antics, he never failed to glance at her with loving eyes.

I was relieved she was fine, but I couldn't help but regret. I suppose I wanted to be her Shinobi and steal her away from her evil fiance.

She caught me pacing atop a hill of cherry blossoms. Hashirma went overboard with his show of affection.

"It's been a long time, how have you been," she asked. I felt like crying, I should be the one inquiring about her health, yet here we are. I hugged her tightly, years of worry and frustration were put into that one hug. I cried again that day, not with sorrow but joy, even though I didn't save her she was ok.

She told me of her up and down relationship with Madara and his family, and I told her of what happened with my family. I took over the clan household standing as the monarch and unifying the Senju and Uzumaki clan in marriage.

"Wow, you're amazing, Mito!"

She smiled so brightly that day, I couldn't believe that light could ever be snuffed out.

"Aaaaahhhhhh!" a scream of agony ran through the Uchiha compound. Haruna's light was snuffed out.

Madara changed after that, his face was already scary, but now it was murderous. Hashirama could no longer appease him and before long, the Uchiha head left the village.

He did return, with destruction and death.

The battle of the two friends resulted in the Valley of the End, and my being becoming the nine tails jinchuriki.

Much like Madara before him, Hashirama was lost to the world. I sometimes think he loved the Uchiha more than me. I chuckled at the thought, how was I always losing to that man?

I continued to watch over the village, seeing it through many generations before my time came to an end. I never thought I had any regrets that could be changed at this point. Losing Haruna and then Hashirama, was my greatest regret, if I could go back, perhaps I would fight harder to protect them.

I opened my eyes in confusion and wonder. I was sure it was the end so why was I?

"It's been a while, Mito-chan~"

I looked over to the familiar voice to see an unfamiliar face. "How have you been?"

I had to ask.

"Haruna?"

She chuckled.

"I go by Ina now," she said.

"Haruna!"

I hugged her tightly and a lifetime of regret poured into that one hug. She patted my back gently.

"Come now, don't be like this, we have a lot to catch up on and a lot to do, dear cousin."

Be this the dream or the afterlife, it didn't matter, I won't let go of her again!

"Mito Uzumaki?" My blood chilled. "Now why would you summon this woman for the dead?"

I turned to the voice, one that haunted my nightmares. He smiled at me, the warmth not reaching his eyes.

"I suppose I should say, 'It's nice to see you again,' but we would both be lying."

"You!"

Hmm, I am not satisfied but it is needed for the next chapter. This is the final arc and everything will come together. All the "hints" I left will be revealed. I am scared it will feel rushed but honestly, knowing this story, it will write itself and completely ignore all my plans.

Next chapter

March 1 2025

promise!

until next time~

night song.