It hadn't been the set of dawn when he felt her chakra surge from within the castle and then it left - he followed suit towards the same location as yesterday.

"It's you again." She said as she sulked underneath a maple tree, a tabby cat resting on her leg.

"I am." He regarded her acknowledgment. He saw her standing, straightening her furisode - tabby cat hanging in on her dress for her dear life.

"Thank you for not ratting me out to my father and I apologize for my sibling's behavior." She bowed graciously, her hair hiding her embarrassment. "It would've been more difficult to escape if he knew what I was doing lest having my eight siblings follow me around wherever I go. Thank you."

"What were you doing?" He asked her, stepping forward to hold and examine the fat Tabby.

"Please don't touch Momo, she doesn't like other's scent on her."

"What is she?" He stared at the tabby in wonder.

"None of your business." Momo the tabby answered uninterestedly licking at her front foot.

"Momo! Please forgive her - she not usually like that. Momo is one of my summon."

"Summon?"

"I… I don't know either. I just saw it from my father's forbidden scrolls."

"A scroll?" He looked towards the young girl.

"Unhand me, Senju!" The tabby cat hissed towards him.

"Please don't tell my father! It's forbidden to practice this in my country." The girl fidgeted as she picked up the fat tabby. "My father forbade everyone - anyone from practicing anything related to the old scrolls in his library especially his children."

"Your father was a formidable shinobi."

"He was. After the great war - he swore not to use another technique." She looked at him sadly. "He forbade any form and practice. Father told Kazue he's always hated what the war has done to his brothers. He welcomed everyone who turned their backs to being a shinobi to this country. He even made mother seal everyone's power."

"Yet you're practicing it. You said it was sealed, how did you undo it?"

"My mother removed my seal when she caught me wandering inside my father's library. She taught me how to undo her seal, how to hide thing and get the scrolls. Sometimes Momo and Mami gets them for me. My ninbyo helped me practice secretly in this forest."

"You learned how to summon them on your own?" She answered shyly with a nod. 'A self-taught shinobi?' He scanned her form, her stance, her posture – her eyes said it all.

"My mother was a shinobi. She shared some of her knowledge to me. We both don't agree with what my father did to this country." She stated irritably. "He made it evolve in reverse - restraining his people's capabilities, sealing them within the large walls of this country."

"Hmmmm…"

"How would you protect the people around you if you're being restrained and has nowhere to go – following orders like a dog?" She looked at him with her aura of determination. "I refuse to become that useless tiny speck of dust on the map, following blindly, stuck in an repressive country with no future."

"Hn" I grunted in response.

"Father is not ambitious, but he's very keen on keeping his country out of war and danger." She looked at me again with hatred in her eyes. "Nine daughters, nine powerful shinobi villages - He cannot offer anything but his daughters and his riches to ensure his country to be completely safe from chaos." Her statement made me put two on two.

'Is this why my brother, Hashirama, pushed for me to go?' My trail of thought was interrupted as the same small sand cat emerged from my line of sight.

"That's why he's playing matchmaker between you and my dreadful sister, Hina. Don't trust her acts – she's malicious. "

"Senju-sama." The small cat bowed. "Kenichirou-sama has asked the servants to fetch you from your room."

I was back before the servant had knocked on my door.

"Senju-sama, Oota-sama is requesting your presence at the banquet." I nodded in reply as I followed towards the venue. Just like last night, I was greeted by his nine children.

"Tobirama! Take a seat." His loud voice booming loudly as he gestured to the seat beside him. "You had been acquainted with my children, especially my eldest daughter, Hina." His eyes gestured to the daughter seated right in front of me.

'Ah, last night.' I sighed inwardly.

A lot has happened the night before during the massive dinner the Oota head has thrown only for him and his children. For one, he noted that Kenichirou was constantly watching his every move and would switch his attention towards his second eldest child. After everyone was done, he made it a point to tell his other children to head out leaving him, the Oota head and the eldest daughter at the large banquet hall.

'Hina-chan here is a refined young lady.' The head started. 'An intelligent young woman indeed. Her teachers have nothing but positive remarks about her.'

'Father, you think so highly of me.' The girl blushed as she glanced towards me.

"Of course, you are my first daughter. Now, why don't you show Tobirama around the garden?" Kenichirou said - faked yawning as he bid both of us good night.

'This trip has come to matchmaking?' I sighed internally as I bowed at the lady standing by the door. We walked in silence as we headed out of the castle. Oota, Hina - second eldest, just like her father she has a slightly larger creole colored eyes, exaggerated long platinum hair.

"Senju-sama, how was your trip?" I almost rolled my eyes.

"It was good."

"I've heard a lot about you from my father." She stated as she unconsciously picked the ume flowers in front of her. Why is this girl always blushing?

"Your father is a fine shinobi."

"Just like you." Dead silence followed - no words were uttered as we trudged around the garden. The garden was quite a sight to see- I've never seen flowers bloom like this back in Konohagakure. Feeling another chakra near me, my attention was brought towards a black cat was perched atop of a small Ume tree.

"Ah! It's cute." Hina stated as she looked at the direction I was looking to. "Come here, little one." The cat went berserk, it had screeched at the poor girl – attempting to scratch her eyes. In one swift move, she ran towards me, her hands griping tightly on my hakama.

"Senju-sama! I'm scared." She stated – with a tear in her eye.

"It's getting quite late." I sighed. "Let me walk you to your chamber."

"I decided to have our treaty with my children – present. They will be the next generation to lead a great land and I want them to learn how we do our business." Oota had declared – looking towards him, his eyes the same as they looked during the Great War. "I know you're a busy man. So I want to have this shenanigans cut short. I'm offering the riches and resources of my land your country – everything your country needs to build itself."

"And what do you ask in return." Tobirama asked looking around Kennichirou's children seated in front of him.

"I want my land to be protected and spared from the war. I am designating one of my children as my representative in Konohagakure, overseeing and accounting on everything I'm giving you. To seal the deal, I was intending to marry my eldest daughter to the Hokage. Since this cannot be done, the second in command will take the responsibility."

"Oota-san, I don't mean to meddle. Konoha is a fairly young village – we live in danger of being attacked every day." Crossing his arms he looked towards a silent Hana sitting on a chair listening intently on their conversation. "Hashirama and I are fairly known and sought out – if I marry Hina-san, she will easily become a target of our enemies. You will only put her life in danger." Hana's forest green eyes are now focused towards him.

"I do intend to make a bargain." He continued. "Your fourth child has a great potential and I don't intend for it to go to waste. I know a genius when I see one. Konohagakure will be honored to have such talent." The Oota head was staring at him his mouth agape. "I would suggest, Hana-san be elected as your representative." Hina sat limply on her chair – staring furiously at Hana. The younger girl didn't mind, her attention was on him. Her eyes full of emotions… defiance? Confusion? Betrayal?

"It is sealed then." Hana couldn't believe what she's hearing. "You and Hana will marry on third day."