Chapter 42: Surprise Visit

'Inner thoughts'

°Telepathic Communication°

3rd POV

On their way back from a mission an azure eyed girl tagged along with two men who wore black cloaks with red clouds. In contrast, she wore a simple cloak over her white dress along with a straw hat with a veil giving off a noble aura.

Walking quietly ahead of the two she kept her hands in front of her stomach as she continued her steady pace in order to hide the smile under her veil. Talking to her beloved they exchanged words unheard to the sword-wielding shinobi beside them.

"You're heart rate spiked." The blue skin man spoke up breaking the outer silence.

"Well, it is hard to breathe under this." She sighed moving her veil to the side feeling the fresh fall wind hit her face. "I wonder how baa-chan does it. She always covers her face like this."

"The one you went to visit right?" He asked as he remembered the little event from almost a year ago.

"Yeah, it's the same one." She let the veil fall back in its place before her eyes. "I've never actually seen her fa–"

"You idiot!" They heard a girl's voice yell loudly from the trees beside them.

Stopping the moment she heard the voice the others paid no mind and continued walking. "Ignore it. We have to report back." Itachi said as he kept walking. Staring silently at both of them Yukino turned away wanting to know the source of the sound. Being the curious one of the bunch she went stepped off the path and into the forest in the direction of the voice much to their displeasure of her choice of distraction. If they chose to keep walking without her she didn't mind, she knew where they were headed and she would catch up as soon as her curiosity was quenched.

Following the bickering, she narrowed it down to a couple of steps ahead. Sticking close to the shadows she pressed her body to the trunk of a tree as she inched closer and closer until she was close enough to see clearly a red-haired girl tackle a blond-haired boy to the ground, taking a tight hold of his back making him stumble around as the extra weight caused him to tilt to the side.

"This won't solve anything. Let go of him." A black-haired girl with red glasses sighed seeing the boy struggling to get out her off his back.

"He got us in this mess. Let her. Just a little longer." a red-haired boy said unsympathetically.

"Let go of him." A raven-haired boy sighed holding a small ornament in his hands. Reluctantly the red-haired girl got off the whiskered boy's back sending him a glare as a warning for next time. While that happened the raven-haired boy analyzed the small ornament. The small object had three rings with old symbols engraved on it, each capable of being twisted to form various combinations. Furrowing his brows slightly he looked troubled as he realized something.

"What's wrong?" The black-haired girl asked adjusting her red glasses as she eyed the thing item he was holding.

Distracted for a moment Yukino glanced back sensing the two Akatsuki members coming towards the group. They had returned to look for their only healer since losing her would result in a reprimand from their leader especially Konan.

Yukino deciding it was time to leave she stopped, wondering if the kids would be alright. Looking between the group of lost kids and her own dangerous companions inching closer with every second that passed she took in a deep breath and stepped out of the shadows. "I'm sorry but I couldn't help but overhear your screaming." She said announcing her presence to the group. Freezing like scared deer, the kids stared at the veiled woman in this otherwise lonely forest. "I'm sorry." She removed her straw hat in hopes that it would make them less scared. "I hope this is better."

To her surprise it just made three of the five kids stare at her with shock before they turned their heads avoiding her eyes. "We are lost. You wouldn't happen to know where we are?" The girl with glasses asked, stepping forward.

Before she could answer she sensed her two companions approaching and without saying a word she sent a simple message to all five. °Two people are approaching, be wary.° Once that message was sent the kids perked up finally sensing the two approaching men.

"We are currently in a forest in between the land of rivers and the land fire." She quickly explained keeping her voice low but audible to the group. "Call me Yuki."

Yukino's POV

"Thank you for the information Yuki-san, I'm Sara-" Before she could finish the raven-haired boy elbowed her. "Oh, I meant to say, Sarako."

The blonde-haired boy who had been looking elsewhere caught interest in the conversation and spoke directly after her. "I'm Boruto." The moment he said it the two red-haired kids sent their heated glares right at him. Aho. Aho. I could hear the crows saying which was weird.

The bushes rustled as Itachi and Kisame both entered the clearing we were standing in. Without paying much mind to them another kid introduced themselves.

"I'm Aiko," The red-haired teal eyed girl said, taking a step in front of the boy who just spoke, "and this is my twin brother Mako." She said, pulling the other red-haired kid to her side covering the boy called Boruto from my view.

"I'm supposed to be their caretaker. Name's Kazura," The raven-haired boy greeted holding his hand out to Itachi who stood beside me. Noticing from the peripheral vision the two red-haired kids sent the boy, Kazura, a questioning look that only lasted for a second before they turned away. 'Kazura… I remember reading a poem with the scarlet kazura before. It was kind of sad. I wonder if his parents are poets.'

"What should we do with them?" Kisame asked, placing his hand on Samehada's handle as he told us what we should do which sent a shiver up my spine.

"This is supposed to be a covert mission. Let us not draw attention to ourselves." Itachi added glancing at the kids who began to fidget nervously.

"The mission is over," I whispered tugging on Kisame's sleeve. "They are just lost children, let me take care of them until they find they're way to Konohagakure where they can find their group."

"Oh, really? How do you know they were headed to Konoha?" He smiled letting go of the handle crossing his arms instead.

"They asked if I knew where it was." I lied covering for them in hopes that that's where they were heading. "Please, I don't feel right leaving kids alone on their own." I placed my hands together and lowered my head. Hearing him hum in consideration I quickly added, "I'll cook tonight if you let me."

"Fine. What do you think, Itachi?"

"Let her, they're her responsibility." He turned around and headed back to the path.

Turning around I gave the kids a thumbs up and they all nodded Sarako and Boruto glanced at Kazura with a strained smile sending him a look that meant one thing, 'How do we get out?'

・・・

Telling them about what I talked to Kisame and Itachi about, minus the bit of killing them to avoid witnesses, they seemed content with me guiding them to Konohagakure. The two red-haired twins, Aiko and Mako, walked behind everyone whispering to each other things I couldn't hear since the two people in front of them kept talking louder than them. Boruto kept slowing down trying to wander but Sarako kept her eyes on him preventing him from doing so. When she caught him doing it she harshly whispered to him reminding him that because of him they were lost. Suddenly she went silent and she tapped Kazura's back

He raised an eyebrow confused when he flinched remembering something and when that happened he took off his jacket revealing his open-backed turtle neck top. 'What a weird choice of clothing.' It thought as I pressed my lips together to make sure I kept the thought to myself and not say it out loud like the other times.

"That guy with the black hair he's pretty attractive." The raven-haired boy suddenly spoke up making me jump in surprise.

"Really? I haven't noticed," I said which caused a laugh from Kisame.

"You haven't?" Kazura asked with clear confusion in his voice. "Oh." He slowed down falling back to where the two red-haired twins were. Keeping my eyes forwards I closed my eyes temporarily sensing the area around us. 'Those two are clearly Uzumaki. But they're not the only ones. Those two boys, Kazura and Boruto, I can sense it, they're both Uzumaki. Though more interesting is that the latter has Hyūga blood in him. But he also seems to have something more that I can't discern.' I shook my head wondering what that mysterious chakra I felt from Boruto. 'I'm going to have to talk to them once I get them alone.'

Still in the forest…

Finding a place to set up camp they each split up taking different tasks. Stuck with dinner duty I looked at everything available and came up with a vague idea of what I could cook. Going to collect the edible plants I was stopped with a tug on my cloak. Turning my head to look behind me Aiko stood behind me with her jacket in her arms but more interesting was what she held in it. "Will this be enough?" She asked holding it up for me to see.

Moving the veil from my face I inspected the plants noticing how they were each perfectly edible. "It will, can you please wash it by the river?"

"Sure." She beamed, running towards the river where Kisame and Itachi were fishing.

"Will this also be good?" Someone asked from behind me making me turn once again.

Mako stood quietly holding out mushrooms he had found in his hands. "This one is poisonous," I pointed out picking out the red mushroom from his hands and throwing it back into the forest.

"Oh, right… sorry." He apologized looking down in shame.

"I'll begin boiling the rest thank you," I said, gathering water in my palm and sweeping the mushrooms from his hands. Giving his head a slight pat I made my way to the river to clean the mushrooms and gather more water to boil.

'Those kids seem prepared.' I thought as I made my way back to the camp but upon returning I saw the fire already made as well as the fish that would be cooked. Hovering the ball of water above the fire I hung it there letting it boil.

・・・

Finishing with the help of the kids we all sat around the fire quietly eating with the fire crackling as the only noise among us. Bored I wanted nothing more than to talk but I stopped myself when nothing came to mind to talk about.

Looking around my eyes drifted to the girl with glasses first as she ate with an almost refined aura. 'Why does she remind me of Sasuke?' I thought as I squinted my eyes. 'No, they look nothing alike. The eye and hair color are the same though. It must be my imagination. I wonder how duck butt is doing?' I looked into the fire remembering the past. Seeing a stick fly into the fire my eyes were drawn to Aiko as she threw another stick.

Returning to her food her teal eyes focused intensely on the flames as she thought intensely of something I did not know. From the angle I sat, the expression she made was exactly like that of Gaara who I haven't seen since the day of his apology.

Moving my attention elsewhere I looked at the kid Boruto. His sky blue eyes and blond hair along with the two whiskers on his cheeks reminded me of a certain knuckleheaded shinobi. 'I wonder where he is now.' I sighed looking up at the starry sky. 'Is my deep subconscious trying to tell me something?' I concluded since when I looked at these kids all I could think about were people who I missed or had things to solve.

Finished with the fish I threw my stick into the fire. Removing my cloak I picked up my canteen. "I'm going to the river, anybody need a refill?" The moment I said it, hands rose up immediately.

3rd POV

Seeing the number of hands Yukino nodded tiredly but slightly glad since that would mean more time for her to think alone.

"Mama, I'll help you," Mako said, making her eyes snap open in surprise. Everyone went silent except from that small cough from Sarako as she almost choked on the food. A second passed when it was finally processed in everyone's head what he said.

"Pff!" The blond-haired boy laughed.

Yukino's shocked expression was replaced with joy as she put on a bright smile. "Of course." With his help, she gathered the canteens one by one until she stopped in front of the blond-haired boy who kept laughing at Mako's slip up.

"Ara ara. Keep laughing and your face will remain like that." She pinched his cheek softly. Shutting up he cleared his throat and handed his canteen over. While he did that Yukino was internally crossing out that from her list of things she wanted to try out.

Collecting the rest she walked towards the river in relative calm silence. Once she reached the river she manipulated the water filtering out any bugs, leaves, or fish before beginning to slowly fill up each canteen one at a time.

Handing the first full canteen to Mako her hands touched his realizing how soft they were like hers. Filling another she passed it to him noting the material of his clothes. Making sure not to move a facial muscle she continued to fill the canteens as a small suspicion came to mind. But to prove it she had to ask something important, "Can you believe it? The Fourth Great Shinobi war wasn't so long ago and yet you can still see the effects that it left behind."

"Don't you mean third?" Mako corrected as he handed her another canteen.

"Oh right. It was the third wasn't it." Yukino hummed as her suspicions were correct. 'These kids are either shinobi or children of rich merchants.' She thought as she put the small clues together: the knowledge of edible wild plants, wilderness survival, good clothes but most importantly education. For it wasn't something the average kid had.

Realizing this, an idea came to her head as to how she could improve the well being of her people. Without saying anything she filled the last canteen and closed it shut. With a determined nod, she looked at Mako and smiled. "Let's head back." With that, she skipped part of the way back to camp as new plans started to flood her mind.

"Did you have another idea?"

"I sure did." She beamed.

・・・

Making it back Yukino sensed Itachi moving away from camp along with one of the kids who appeared to be leading him. "Yuki-san?" Mako asked.

"Its nothing." She shook her head as they made their way to a camp that would be empty except for a sword-wielding shinobi who had gone to sleep.

Once they reached camp Yukino settled by the fire deciding to write down her proposal so it would give time for the others to think about it back home. Distracted in her own stuff Mako took the opportunity sneaking towards the river that he just came from to meet up with the others as to how they would get back home.

"Life sure is mysterious," Yukino said with a small laugh as she looked up to see no one was there. Opening a quick portal she left the proposal in the library and stood up knowing that it would be best to bring them back. They were close she could feel it. No one else was around but that didn't mean that there weren't any threats or dangers nearby. Patting her dress she went towards the group of four first.

By the river, the four kids whispered keeping their voices low using the sound of the river to muffle what they were saying. Aiko, who had her eyes to the forest, kept an eye out for the white silk dress that glowed faintly under the moonlight that the azure eyed woman wore. Catching a small glimpse of the dress she didn't doubt her sight for a moment and quickly waved her hands telling the group to seize their talking.

Immediately going quiet Mako and Aiko turned to each other going immediately into a game of rock paper scissors just as Yukino emerged from the shadows silently. "One more game." Both twins said in unison. "Janken!"

Both landing with rock, they sighed. "Another tie," Sarako added.

"Yep." With a yawn, Boruto headed back to camp on his own. "I'm going to sleep."

"So am I," Aiko added, following him.

Yukino who had walked all the way to them decided to stay as she watched the kids she was supposed to bring back return on their own. Standing there for a moment she looked up at the moon and turned around going back as well.

Just before she could reach camp both twins suddenly turned around, grabbed her hands, and spun her once before letting go. Laughing they ran back to camp as if they knew a secret she hadn't learned yet. Shaking her head she noticed how she was now facing away from camp and instead she was facing towards the direction that Kazura and Itachi took.

Hesitantly going towards them she looked behind her making sure no one was following. Activating her eyes she closed then opened them revealing lavender eyes. Continuing with a steady pace she looked straight ahead as the veins around her eyes bulged.

Way ahead of her she could see Kazura moving his arms animatedly as he sat beside Itachi who nodded from time to time. The veins in her face slowly faded as her eyes returned to her original blue coloring. Wondering what they were talking about she didn't sneak the rest of the way and just kept the same pace she had.

Reaching in a matter of a few short minutes she first noticed Kazura smiling brightly at Itachi who bore a similar happy smile. Seeing it her heart skipped the beat as she held in her breath.

Looking up Kazura noticed Yukino and waved at her before saying goodbye to Itachi and skipping happily back to camp. This caused her to snap out of it and breathe again. "You two seem happy. Did something good happen?" She asked walking over.

"I just wondered how your kids would look like."

"Uzumaki kids are really cute so does that answer your question?"

"No. If we…"

"If we had kids?" She sat down beside him, softly brushing his hair to the side. "I would like them to look like you." She smiled tilting her head slightly to get a better look at his eyes. "Uchiha children are also cute." She giggled, poking his forehead the way she would always see him do to his brother.

"Oh, really." He pushed her back to the ground and smiled with the softness of moonlight glow. "We would have the cutest kids then." He lightly kissed her forehead.

"Should we test it out then?" She joked. Tensing up he turned away, hiding his face behind the collar of his cloak. Laughing quietly she pulled his collar down planting a small kiss on his cheek. "You know I wouldn't do something like that out in the open."

Once the words left her mouth she realized what it meant. Feeling her face heat up she stood up and walked backward while still facing him. "My time is coming close so I have to sleep so… yep… see you back at the camp." She said as she nearly tripped on her own feet. Turning around she hastily walked away to hide her own embarrassment.

A couple of steps into the forest she stopped abruptly and looked towards a bush feeling the back of her neck and ears burn. "I can tell you're there." She said hoping that no one was really there.

Popping out from behind the bushes all five kids slowly stood up. "We didn't see anything." The whiskered boy quickly blurted out as his face flushed red.

Her's increased several shades as well knowing clearing that it was a lie. Trying to keep her face emotionless and calm she looked away exhaling to calm down just a bit. "H-how… ahem. How long have you all been here?" She asked as her voice wavered with embarrassment.

"Since you arrived!" Aiko gladly answered. "So are you two together?" She asked and without giving her a chance to answer she asked another more intimate question. "How far have you two gone?"

"Aiko-san!" Sarako hissed telling her that she shouldn't have asked that type of question.

"What? No, all we've done is kiss. Wait what am I saying?! You five should be back in camp." She pulled them out from behind the bushes and walked them back to the camp making sure to keep her eyes on all of them to avoid them from wandering off again.

"…"

"You're dress looks nice where you buy it," Boruto asked making all eyes turn to him. "What?"

"This dress was a gift from long ago. So it is very precious to me." She answered calmer than before although she could still hear her heart beating loudly, slowing down to a stop she stared at the white silk dress that's seen just as many things as she has. "Since you asked a question it should be fair if I ask one as well. Uzumaki." Watching their reactions she sighed knowing she was right. "I see… if you have nowhere to call home I can direct you to a certain village that will accept you."

"We are fine," Kazura spoke first. "We have a place to call home, we are just trying to return there." He smiled giving a light bow. "Thank you for your consideration."

"I'm glad." She sighed glancing up at the moon slightly visible through the trees. "It's getting pretty late and we move again early tomorrow so quickly. All of you. Back to camp and go immediately to sleep." She waved them in a guiding manner.

Yukino's' POV

Dragging them back to camp I told them to sleep they each split up taking the base of a tree as a resting place for the night. Aiko and Mako sat next to each other leaning on the other's head as support before closing their eyes. Not too far from them Kazura, Boruto, and Sarako laid down on the ground right next to each other staring at the tree branches above their heads. Seeing them already comfortable I decided to do the same and rest. Climbing a tree I went up a couple of branches and closed my eyes just as my time approached.

Waking suddenly the first thing I saw was Gaara sneaking towards the forest. 'Wait Gaara?' Rubbing my eyes I sat up realizing that it was Mako who I mistook for Gaara. 'Wow. My mind is seriously playing tricks on me.' I sleepily shook my head and jumped down landing quietly on a water platform big enough for my feet.

Glancing at Itachi and Kisame I looked around realizing that Mako wasn't the only one gone. Taking in a slow breath I hovered towards the forest keeping myself above the ground and my head low enough to avoid it getting tangled in any low hanging branches.

The deeper into the forest that I went the louder the whispers became until I heard clearly "-" Stopping my mind began to piece things together. 'It can't be… but it is possible. I've done it before.' And with that thought, I jumped out revealing myself but as I did more questions came to mind. Questions that would lay heavily in my heart if it weren't for that.

Bolting up I felt a cold rush run through my body. Looking around I found myself on the forest floor by the tree trunk of the tree where I swore I fell asleep last night. But aside from that something else stood out to me and that was the dark sky becoming brighter the more time I spent questioning what happened the night prior. Standing up I headed to the river to clear my head.

Seeing the river I attempted to skip the last few steps but I felt faint as my sight went dark for a second so I didn't. Kneeling before the river I cupped my hands when I stopped seeing ink on my arm. They went home. Found their way. Lie. Weirdly enough I couldn't remember writing it even though it was in my handwriting.

Quickly wiping the ink from my arm I rubbed the area so much while trying to get it off that that area of my skin turned slightly red. Still feeling a bit sleepy I splashed my face hoping that it would her wake me up.

Hearing heavy footsteps as they drew closer I ignored them as I dunked my head in the water in an attempt to fully wake up. "Those kids are gone," Kisame said in a warning tone.

'Kids?' Remembering the strange message on my wrist I lied. "Oh, they were able to tell where they were and headed home."

"I see I'll tell Itachi." He turned around and left, leaving me to my thoughts. Closing my eyes I tried to remember the kids he was talking about. Trying to see past the seals around my memories I only remembered blurs of five figures. 'My memory shouldn't be this fuzzy… Did I make myself forget? Why?' I pondered for a short minute. Freezing a short realization came to mind. 'Could they have come from the future?' Stopping myself from thinking anymore I stood up and shook my wet hands. 'Stop! If you forgot it must remain like that! There's no point forcing myself to remember if I will find out later on.' Part of me was excited about the future and the mystery behind those kids but another was worried as to why my forgetting was necessary. 'Would so much really change?' Feeling my head throb I held it in between my hands and I breathed in slowly. Waiting for the pain to leave. Once the pain had passed I walked back to camp to prepare for the long day on foot.

"So, Orochimaru is dead." I heard Itachi say which made me snap my head up to see if I didn't just imagine it.

"Oh, Yuki you heard that? It must be great news for you." Kisame chuckled standing up and picking up Samehada.

"A bit. That means he can't hurt me and more people anymore right?" I asked as naively as I could.

"That traitor is dead. So we no longer have to kill him. Lucky for us your little brother did it for us eh, Itachi?" He said as he sent Itachi a glance before walking towards his next destination.

?: Wait if you don't remember what happened then how are you telling me.

Yukino: Well, I got to meet those kids again. When I did I remembered what happened back then. But if you want to know what happened you're going to have to ask those kids.

?: Who are they then?

Yukino: You will see them soon. Now onto the next part. Once I heard of his death I knew that it was my chance.

Going to the Southern hideout first I wanted to see if that girl was still there. Which to my surprise she was. "Hello again." I sighed turning around to see her standing behind me not even a minute after I stepped foot into the hideout.

"How do you keep getting in?" She leaned slightly to the side placing a hand on her hip.

"I have my ways." I shrugged leaving the mystery for another day. "Orochimaru is dead. Apparently Sasuke killed him." I said hearing those words echo in the empty halls.

Her stance faltered for a bit but she straightened her back, "So what?!"

"I came to give you an offer. I can sense that you're an Uzumaki. So am I, if you stayed here out of fear then you don't have to worry anymore since, you know, he's dead. I can take you to a place where you can start anew." I offered my hand out for her to take. "Do you accept?"

"No, thanks. I was put in charge of this place and I will keep watching over it." She huffed seeming determined.

"I see. Then take care until we meet again." I turned away and continued walking. "If you ever change your mind I will leave the offer open for you. Bye!"

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I thought that would work." I turned around on my heel. "Then again there really isn't anything here so… I might as well go to the other bases." I quickly spun around and opened a portal around a corner ready for me to jump through.

Yukino: When I was exploring Orochimaru's bases I found some of Kabuto's notes on me it took a while to decipher but I have to say they were very detailed so I took it. I'll show you later but the point is that I still have it. But while I was doing that someone was killed. Team 10's sensei was killed by Hidan and Kakuzu. I didn't know that until much much later.

?: How did you miss that?

Yukino: I came and went from the village and I never stayed long enough to hear the local news. I didn't see any of my friends either, most of them were sent on missions. But once I did hear about it I wasn't going to let anyone help them. So I made sure no one could find him.

Standing within Konoha's walls I closed my eyes focusing carefully on Hidan's chakra. 'That man can be torn to shreds and wouldn't die. I can't let anyone find him and put him back together.'

Sensing him my eyes snapped open and I directed my gaze towards it. Making a beeline towards my target I stuck to the shadows using Konoha's many forests as cover. Getting ever so close my hands began to twitch as uneasiness crept it in. The feeling of multiple eyes on me sent shivers up my spine.

Stopping I looked around noticing deer staring right at me instead of running away as they usually did. 'The Nara forest.' I realized as I remembered the things I read from my books. "I'm not going to save him. I just need to make sure he never returns." I spoke out loud as if the deer would understand.

Not having the patience to wait and see what would happen I continued walking towards Hidan's location. Which led me to a burnt clearing with a pile of rocks near the center. Bending down I sensed him deep in the ground scattered but very much alive. Taking out a couple of blank tags I wrote on them creating a simple barrier that would hide his chakra signature.

As I did so the number of deer increased staying by the edge of the clearing, watching. Slightly unnerved by them I tried my best to ignore them. Creating my adamantine chains I placed the tags on them and slowly slipped them into the cracks.

"Kakuzu?" I could hear deep underground. "Is that you? About time!"

Ignoring the voice I kept my focus and placed the seals down slowly retreating. Doing the necessary hand signs I ignored his yelling as I finished. Slamming my hands down black seals spread out from my hands covering the rocks and spreading down into the ground making a concealing barrier around Hidan's remains. Activating my eyes I activated the Byakugan. Seeing not a single trace of his chakra I sighed, glad to have successfully completed it.

"Who's there!" I heard Hidan yell.

"It's rude to not answer." A gentle voice said behind me.

Recognizing that voice I turned around not surprised to see her appear all of a sudden. "It's been years since I last saw you. Where have you been?"

"I have been awakening certain people." She said turning her visible eye to the deer, with a wave of her hand they left obeying her silent command.

'Well. That's new.' Hiding my astonishment I crossed my arms. "You came to tell me something right? Probably some story or lesson that will probably keep my mind racing for days." I shrugged since that's what usually happened after she appeared after days of no contact.

"Intuitive. Just how I raised you to be." She smiled with a hint of pride. "Uzushiogakure once had a princess many many years ago. She was supposed to be the heir to the crown but she gave it up in pursuit of her passion, fūinjutsu. With her younger brother in line for the throne, she was free of her royal shackles. With time and resources in hand, her brother aided her in her studies as she came up with new seals that further strengthened her clan. But she crossed a line. She began meddling in affairs of life and death. Her work was her life and it took hers. Because of a certain accident, she is now bound to the island." She told the story without an emotion on her face.

"Was this girl perhaps you?"

"It was."

"How can you be here then?"

"A couple of deer from Uzushiogakure were given to the Nara Clan as gifts." She turned her head ever so regally towards the few deer lingering around. "But that is not what I came here to say. Though this warning comes late I must warn you someone has been using the reaper death seal in recent years. So far the shinigami has consumed multiple souls some that had been long dead. The Third Hokage's soul was consumed as the price for sealing them away. Remember the following jutsu, the reanimation jutsu, was invented by the second Hokage once he had access to my writings and works. I am certain that that same jutsu has been behind the recent reanimations. Be careful. If you ever encounter a reanimated being you must seal it. It feels no pain and it will not stop. Never. Kill the summoner. Neutralizing is the only option." She warned turning towards the forest to leave once again.

"That's it after years of going missing this is all your going you are going to say?" I asked wanting to know a bit more about myself.

"You may learn something about your creation by going back to the library." She responded without looking back and disappearing once again.

It wasn't the answer I was looking for but it was the one I received. Opening portal to my library I stepped in and the moment I did I gave the library one good look. I remembered every single book in it though I've glanced through those I haven't read I knew that they didn't hold the answers I was looking for. "It must be the library back in Uzushio…" I realized. With a smile, I looked up at the glass ceiling realizing that her strange visit gave me a good excuse to play detective maybe not now but some other day.